Dhuandhar 2 Surpasses Baahubali 2 at North American Box Office
The spy-action film Dhuandhar: The Revenge, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, has achieved a significant milestone by officially overtaking Baahubali 2: The Revenge to become the highest-grossing Indian film at the North American box office. This remarkable achievement was celebrated across social media platforms, with the film's official handle highlighting the new benchmark set for Indian cinema overseas.
Rana Daggubati's Reaction to the Box Office Milestone
Rana Daggubati, who played a leading role in Baahubali 2, shared his thoughts on the Bollywood film's success. In an interview with Variety India, Daggubati welcomed the new box office record, stating, "It's good. It's a decade later, but it's still very good. I think we’re all still touching the tip of the iceberg."
Dhuandhar 2 has accumulated an impressive $24.39 million to date in the United States, surpassing the lifetime earnings of Baahubali 2, which were estimated at $20.80 million. The latter film had held the record for over nine years before being dethroned by the recent release.
Global Appeal of Local Cinema
Daggubati emphasized the importance of personal and local stories in cinema, noting that such narratives have the power to resonate globally. He explained, "You'll have Baahubalis, you'll have Dhurandhars, you'll have all of these cinemas, but the cinema that's personal will be able to resonate far across."
Championing the cause of local cinema, the actor drew parallels with Korean and American film industries. He highlighted how Korean cinema has successfully exported culturally specific stories, while American cinema historically shaped global perceptions through its films.
The actor also pointed to the increasing global appeal of Indian stories, citing an example of a Malayalam film about nurses working in Bombay. While the film performed reasonably in India, it became a global phenomenon, with collections in France alone reportedly four times higher than in India. Daggubati remarked, "So, our local stories are resonating in different parts of the world because there's human understanding to them." He urged Indian filmmakers to find the best cinematic language to propel the industry forward.
Dhuandhar 2's Global Box Office Performance
On the global stage, Dhuandhar 2 has already crossed the Rs 1,500 crore mark. As the film enters its third week, it is poised to challenge the lifetime box office records of other major Indian films:
- Pushpa 2 at Rs 1,742 crore
- Baahubali 2 at Rs 1,788 crore
The film aims to become the highest-grossing Indian film of all time, though it still needs to surpass Aamir Khan's Dangal, which holds the top spot with a total haul of Rs 2,070 crore.
This box office success underscores the growing influence of Indian cinema internationally and highlights the potential for locally rooted stories to achieve global recognition.
