The Indian box office witnessed a seismic shift on December 21, 2025, as the much-anticipated magnum opus 'Dhurandhar', starring Prabhas, exploded onto screens. The film's opening day performance has not just met expectations but has spectacularly shattered several existing records, establishing a new benchmark for Hindi-dubbed pan-India releases.
Record-Breaking Opening Day Collections
According to early estimates from industry trackers, 'Dhurandhar' has amassed a staggering ₹100 crore to ₹110 crore (nett) across India on its first day. This phenomenal figure places it in an elite league. The collection comfortably surpasses the opening day numbers of some of the biggest blockbusters of recent years. It has outperformed Ranbir Kapoor's Animal (₹63.8 crore), the global phenomenon Avatar: The Way of Water (₹41 crore), and even the recent Telugu action-packed sequel Akhanda 2.
The film's performance was particularly dominant in the Hindi-dubbed version market. Its Hindi version alone is estimated to have collected between ₹68 crore and ₹70 crore, which is a historic high. This massive number eclipses the opening day figures of other major Hindi releases from the South, including Fire & Ash and the aforementioned Akhanda 2.
How Dhurandhar Stacks Up Against the Competition
The box office clash on December 21 was a high-stakes affair, with multiple major releases. 'Dhurandhar' emerged as the undisputed champion, drawing audiences in unprecedented numbers. Here is a quick comparison of its estimated Day 1 nett collections against key competitors:
- Dhurandhar (Hindi): ₹68-70 crore
- Animal (Hindi, 2023): ₹63.8 crore
- Avatar: The Way of Water (Hindi, 2022): ₹41 crore
- Akhanda 2 (Hindi): Significantly lower figures
- Fire & Ash (Hindi): Trailed far behind
This comparison clearly illustrates the sheer magnitude of 'Dhurandhar's' opening. The Prabhas-starrer has effectively rewritten the rulebook for first-day collections, especially for a film primarily released in regional languages with a massive dubbed appeal.
The Road Ahead and Industry Impact
The colossal opening of 'Dhurandhar' sets a thrilling precedent for its theatrical run. With such a powerful start, the film is poised for a monumental first weekend. Trade analysts are now closely watching to see if it can maintain this momentum in the coming days, facing the true test of audience word-of-mouth and repeat viewings.
This event marks a significant moment for Prabhas, reinforcing his status as a pan-India box office titan capable of delivering record-breaking openings. It also highlights the growing power and economic potential of well-made, large-scale cinematic spectacles that transcend linguistic boundaries within the country. The success sends a strong signal to the industry about audience appetite for high-quality, action-driven entertainers on a grand scale.
While the final, verified figures from official sources are still awaited, all preliminary data points to a historic day for Indian cinema. 'Dhurandhar' has not just opened big; it has launched a new era of box office expectations, leaving its competitors from the same day far behind in its dust.
