The highly anticipated spy thriller Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, is gearing up for its release on 5 December amidst a cloud of mixed box office expectations. Despite a star-studded cast and grand scale, the film's advance ticket sales have been surprisingly soft, leading trade analysts to significantly lower their opening day projections.
Hype Meets Reality: Advance Bookings Tell a Different Story
Months of promotion, a striking teaser, and a popular rap track by Hanumankind had built substantial hype for Dhurandhar. The film, which brings together Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal, was initially tipped to chase the biggest Hindi openings of the year, with whispers of a ₹25 crore start. However, the ground reality appears different.
According to the latest data from Sacnilk, the movie has earned approximately ₹2.5 crore in advance bookings so far. This muted response has caused trade observers to revise their forecasts. Current predictions now suggest a tight opening band of ₹15 to 18 crore, with several analysts warning the final figure could lean towards the lower end of that range.
This places Dhurandhar far behind recent major openers like Chhaava (₹31 crore) and Saiyaara (₹21.50 crore), and nowhere near the record-setting debut of Animal (₹64 crore).
Factors Working Against the Espionage Thriller
Several key challenges are impacting Dhurandhar's pre-release momentum. Industry experts point to a potential sense of fatigue among audiences with the India-Pakistan conflict and spy thriller genre, citing the underperformance of films like Tiger 3 as a recent example. This genre typically appeals to a narrower, male-dominated demographic, reducing the urgency for family advance bookings.
Furthermore, the film has encountered unexpected competition from the romantic drama Tere Ishk Mein, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon. Its strong hold in the second week, even on weekdays, has led exhibitors to deny Dhurandhar a one-sided showcase, resulting in a reduced screen count for a major release.
Another significant hurdle is the film's A (Adults Only) certificate. This immediately restricts viewers under 18, cutting off a crucial segment of the family audience. Since large family outings are a major driver of opening-day revenue, this certification limits potential footfall, a lesson learned from films like Baaghi 4.
The Plot, Potential, and Break-Even Pressure
Directed by Aditya Dhar of Uri: The Surgical Strike fame, Dhurandhar weaves fiction with real historical incidents like the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2001 Parliament attack. The plot follows IB chief Ajay Sanyal who recruits a young prisoner for a dangerous deep-cover mission in Karachi, plunging him into a world of espionage and constant peril.
Despite the current headwinds, a silver lining remains. Dhurandhar is still poised to deliver Ranveer Singh's biggest post-COVID opening, comfortably surpassing the ₹12.64 crore start of his film 83. The film's powerful promotional material and ensemble cast could lead to positive word-of-mouth after release.
However, the financial stakes are enormous. Made on a reported budget of ₹280 crore, the movie needs to earn at least ₹560 crore worldwide to break even. All eyes are now on whether the actual audience turnout from December 5th onwards can defy the current soft advance booking trends and propel the thriller towards commercial success.
