Dhurandhar 2 Advance Bookings Hit Record High, Eyeing Rs 50 Crore Previews
With just days remaining until the release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the buzz surrounding the Ranveer Singh-starrer has reached unprecedented levels. Riding high on the success of its first installment, the sequel is already making waves with massive advance bookings and near-housefull paid previews across the country.
Trade Experts Predict Historic Opening Numbers
Trade analysts are betting big on the film's box office prospects, with Kamal Gianchandani expressing strong confidence in its opening performance. "I hope it breaks the record of Dhurandhar one and becomes the first Hindi film to cross Rs 1,000 crore nett. The dubbed versions will be an added advantage," he told PTI.
Highlighting the scale of the opening, Gianchandani added, "We are looking at Rs 45 to 50 crore nett on Wednesday from paid previews, and that too on a weekday starting from half-day." The film has already sold over 4 lakh tickets for its preview shows, which begin on Wednesday evening.
Unprecedented Advance Booking Frenzy
The excitement is clearly visible in advance bookings, which have crossed one million tickets across languages on PVR INOX's platform alone. "At PVR INOX, we have not seen this sort of advance booking even pre-COVID-19. The excitement is phenomenal—there's no precedent. It looks like the film is going to take a massive opening," Gianchandani emphasized.
The demand spans major metropolitan areas including:
- Mumbai
- Delhi NCR
- Bengaluru
- Hyderabad
- Chennai
While also extending to Tier-II cities such as:
- Pune
- Ahmedabad
- Lucknow
- Coimbatore
Industry Veterans Compare Craze to Historic Releases
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh didn't hold back while describing the craze around the film. "In the past, I've seen this kind of craze for Sholay and Baahubali 2. Now this film has caught the attention of one and all—not just in India but overseas as well. This is a toofan, a tsunami—how do you handle a tsunami?" he exclaimed.
Adarsh further added, "Dhurandhar part one was just the trailer. 'Picture toh abhi baaki hai'. All records will be shattered. It's a goldmine for investors—they will be laughing all the way to the bank."
Midnight Shows and Rescheduled Screenings Signal Massive Demand
In a rare move, theaters in Mumbai, Pune, and Ahmedabad have opened post-midnight and early-morning shows ahead of the film's March 19 release. Some cinemas have scheduled screenings as early as 2:15 AM, indicating extraordinary audience anticipation.
Even Mumbai's iconic Maratha Mandir has tweaked its long-standing schedule, shifting its daily screening of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge to accommodate multiple shows of the sequel. This marks a significant departure from the theater's traditional programming.
Industry Insiders Echo Record-Breaking Expectations
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma echoed the sentiment, stating, "In Indian cinematic history, no film is being awaited more eagerly than Dhurandhar 2. I wouldn't be surprised if it earns over Rs 120 crore in a single day."
Film historian S M M Ausaja drew comparisons with iconic releases, adding, "The biggest talking point was Shahenshah—when it finally released, it saw historic occupancy. There was similar buzz around DDLJ and Hum Aapke Hain Koun."
All Eyes on Potential Record-Breaking Opening
The film, which releases across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, is now eyeing multiple benchmarks—from beating preview records to challenging Jawan's opening day numbers. If trade predictions hold true, Dhurandhar: The Revenge could well enter the league of pan-India giants like Baahubali 2: The Conclusion and Pushpa 2: The Rule, potentially rewriting the box office rulebook altogether.
The unprecedented advance booking numbers, combined with industry experts' bullish predictions, suggest that Dhurandhar: The Revenge is poised for a historic opening that could set new standards for Bollywood releases. The film's performance will be closely watched by industry observers and fans alike as it hits theaters this week.
