The cinematic juggernaut 'Dhurandhar' shows no signs of slowing down, demonstrating remarkable staying power as it powers through its sixth weekend in theatres. The Aditya Dhar directorial has successfully weathered the storm of a major new release, the Prabhas-starrer 'The Raja Saab', and emerged as the stronger performer in the crucial Hindi-speaking markets.
Weekend Showdown: Dhurandhar Holds Strong Against New Competition
The sixth weekend presented the first real test for 'Dhurandhar' with the arrival of the big-budget pan-India film 'The Raja Saab'. As expected, 'Dhurandhar' felt the impact on its sixth Friday, collecting Rs 3.5 crore. However, the tide turned quickly. 'The Raja Saab', which opened to a massive Rs 53 crore on day one, received lukewarm reviews, leading to a steep 50% drop on Saturday, where it earned Rs 26 crore. Its Sunday collection stood at Rs 19.1 crore, with early Monday figures at approximately Rs 0.93 crore by afternoon.
In stark contrast, 'Dhurandhar' displayed incredible resilience. The film bounced back strongly on the sixth Saturday and Sunday, pulling in Rs 5.75 crore and Rs 6.15 crore respectively. By the afternoon of its sixth Monday, it had added another Rs 0.32 crore. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the total India collection for 'The Raja Saab' currently stands at Rs 108.93 crore. 'Dhurandhar', meanwhile, has raced ahead to a monumental Rs 805.97 crore nationwide, a figure bolstered by its impressive Rs 51.25 crore haul in the fifth week alone.
The Pushpa 2 Benchmark and Regional Surprises
The film's success becomes even more significant when compared to another blockbuster. As per trade website Box Office India, 'Dhurandhar' is projected to finish roughly Rs 40 crore nett ahead of 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' in the domestic market. While 'Pushpa 2' still leads in several key circuits like Mumbai, CPCI Rajasthan, West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, and Odisha, a major surprise has emerged from the South.
The most striking achievement is in the Mysore/Karnataka region, where 'Dhurandhar' is set to surpass the business of 'Pushpa 2'. This is particularly noteworthy because 'Dhurandhar' released solely in its Hindi version in this territory. 'Pushpa 2', on the other hand, enjoyed a much wider release strategy with multiple language versions, including a local Kannada dub, which typically guarantees a broader audience reach.
What This Means for the Box Office Hierarchy
The sustained performance of 'Dhurandhar' underscores the potent combination of strong content and positive word-of-mouth, enabling it to overcome the initial buzz of a star-driven release like 'The Raja Saab'. Its ability to not just survive but thrive in the face of competition, especially in its sixth week, is a rare feat in modern cinema. The film's success in a non-native language market like Karnataka, outperforming a locally available mega-film, points to its pan-India appeal that transcends linguistic boundaries.
The current box office narrative clearly establishes 'Dhurandhar' as the film with the longest legs in the current season. Its journey from a strong opener to a historic sustained performer is setting new benchmarks for Hindi cinema's box office potential, proving that audience loyalty can defy conventional release cycles and star-power dynamics.
