Ranveer Singh's latest cinematic offering, the spy thriller Dhurandhar, has kicked off its box office journey on a robust note, defying early morning jitters to post a promising first-day haul. The film, which hit screens on 5 December, witnessed a significant upward trend through the day, powered largely by positive audience word-of-mouth.
A Day of Dramatic Turnaround
Released across approximately 5,000 screens in India, Dhurandhar's Friday began with cautious indicators. The film registered a modest advance booking figure of slightly over ₹9 crore. Morning show occupancy remained tepid, lingering below 16%, which pointed towards a softer opening.
However, the narrative changed dramatically as the day progressed. Post-noon, fueled by a wave of favourable early reviews and buzzing social media conversations, the film saw a sharp spike in footfall. Occupancy for afternoon shows surged past 28%, catapulting the collection figures into a much stronger territory.
As per early estimates reported by industry tracker Sacnilk, Dhurandhar had amassed ₹13.67 crore net in India by 5 pm. Based on this powerful evening and night show momentum, industry analysts now predict the film will comfortably sail past the ₹20 crore mark for its full first day. This performance comfortably exceeds initial projections, which had pegged the opening in the ₹15–18 crore range.
Ranveer Singh's Strongest Pandemic-Era Opening
This opening day number is significant for Ranveer Singh's career trajectory. Dhurandhar has now secured the position of the actor's highest-grossing opening day release in the post-pandemic era. The film has surpassed the first-day collections of his previous recent outings, including '83 (₹12.64 crore) and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (₹11.10 crore).
While it marks a personal best for Singh in recent years, the spy thriller still faces a challenge in overtaking the year's biggest openers, such as Saiyaara (₹21.50 crore) and Chhaava (₹31 crore).
Audience Applause and Social Media Buzz
Soon after the first shows concluded, social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), were flooded with reactions from netizens. The overall sentiment leaned heavily positive, with many viewers hailing the film as a gripping experience.
One enthusiastic user declared the film a "blockbuster," praising it as a "must-watch" and a "masterpiece" in the spy genre by director Aditya Dhar, while also expressing eagerness for a sequel. Another review highlighted the film's "stellar editing, classic songs, great characters, and crazy brutality," calling it a complete package. Users described the story and dialogues as "very, very powerful" and praised the film's "rough-edged, intense" nature and sharp pacing in the first half. A common refrain among viewers was labelling Dhurandhar a satisfying "Paisa Wasool movie."
About The Film
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar is a high-octane spy thriller set in the early 2000s. The plot follows an Indian intelligence operative on a dangerous mission targeting criminal syndicates operating in Pakistan's Lyari region. The film boasts a powerful ensemble cast featuring Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and R Madhavan in pivotal roles alongside Ranveer Singh.
