The year 2025 has concluded with a seismic shift for Hindi cinema, thanks to the unprecedented global success of the action film Dhurandhar. Starring Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar, the movie has not only become the year's highest grosser but has also shattered records by crossing the monumental 1000 crore rupee mark worldwide. This triumph comes after a period where major tentpole releases struggled to connect with audiences.
An Unlikely Overseas Champion
In a revealing interview with CNN News 18, the film's overseas distributor, Pranab Kapadia, expressed astonishment at its international performance. He confessed that, on paper, Dhurandhar possessed all the elements traditionally considered detrimental for overseas markets. "It had all the ingredients before release that were not considered suited for overseas markets, the length of the film, the fact that it’s an action film. Traditionally, we’ve seen that romance works much better," Kapadia stated.
Despite these preconceptions, the film has amassed a staggering $26 million (approximately Rs 238 crores) in overseas box office revenue within just 24 days of its release—a figure Kapadia described as "absolutely unbelievable."
North America Leads the Charge
Breaking down the territorial contributions, Kapadia highlighted the dominance of the North American market. "Almost 50 to 60% of the 26 million dollar has come from North America. We have crossed 15 million dollar as of yesterday in North America alone," he revealed. This means the United States and Canada contributed roughly $15.6 million to the total overseas kitty.
The film's success was not limited to North America. In Australia, Dhurandhar has neared the 5 million Australian dollar mark, already ranking as the third best-performing Indian film of all time in that territory. The United Kingdom witnessed a similar story, with collections reaching 2.5 million pounds. Notably, the film has outperformed previous UK favourites like Rocky Aur Rani ki Prem Kahaani and even surpassed a 25-year-old record held by the iconic Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
The Middle Eastern Setback and Overall Victory
Kapadia also addressed a significant hurdle: the film's ban across several Middle Eastern countries. He estimated this resulted in a substantial loss of potential revenue. "I think this is at least a ten million dollar box office that we have lost, because traditionally action films have always performed very well in the Middle East," he remarked.
He clarified that while the team made every effort to secure a release, they respect the regulations of each territory. Dhurandhar follows other major action films like Fighter in facing bans in the region. However, Kapadia emphasized that the film's overwhelming success in other global markets has more than compensated. "Ultimately, the film has found its audience, if not in the Gulf, then elsewhere," he concluded, cementing Dhurandhar's status as a true global box office anomaly for Indian cinema in 2025.
