Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge Opens to Massive Box Office Success and Heated Debate
The highly anticipated Bollywood sequel, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, has stormed into theaters with packed screenings and robust audience turnout. While many viewers are lauding the film for its grand scale, compelling performances, and engaging narrative, a segment of the audience expresses disappointment, feeling it fails to live up to the high standards set by its predecessor.
Dhruv Rathee's Controversial Critique Ignites Social Media Firestorm
Amid the cinematic frenzy, popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has once again stirred the pot, this time directing his criticism squarely at Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge and its director, Aditya Dhar. Taking to social media platform X, Rathee posted a provocative statement, reigniting past accusations. He wrote, "I called Aditya Dhar a BJP propagandist three months ago. Now everyone will see it. It was subtle in the previous film, but he went so blatant this time in overconfidence. Remember how I said, well-made propaganda is more dangerous? Now it's not even well-made. Lol."
His remarks quickly went viral, triggering a polarized reaction across social media platforms. The online community is sharply divided, with some users backing Rathee's critical stance, while others dismiss his claims as unfounded or politically motivated.
Not Rathee's First Attack on the Franchise
This incident marks a continuation of Rathee's previous critiques of the Dhurandhar series. When the first film was released, he shared a detailed video analysis, arguing that "well-made propaganda is more dangerous," pointing to the movie's incorporation of real-life events and references. Additionally, he had criticized the trailer at that time, condemning its violent imagery and alleging that it glorified gore unnecessarily.
Historic Box Office Opening Defies Mixed Word of Mouth
Despite the swirling controversy and mixed audience reactions, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, starring Ranveer Singh, has achieved a historic start at the box office. According to data from Sacnilk, the film collected an impressive Rs. 96.78 crore net on its opening day across 27,574 screenings nationwide.
When combined with Rs. 43 crore from paid previews, the total domestic net earnings soar to Rs. 139.78 crore, with gross collections reaching Rs. 167.74 crore within just 24 hours. This monumental performance has allowed Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge to surpass the opening day figures of major blockbusters such as Jawan, Pathaan, and Animal, securing the title of the biggest opening for a Bollywood film to date.
The film's success underscores its massive appeal, even as debates over its content and messaging continue to unfold in the public sphere.
