With less than 48 hours left for its release, Dhurandhar 2, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, has taken the box office by storm with unprecedented advance booking numbers and massive audience demand worldwide.
Record-Breaking Advance Sales
The film has already scripted history by becoming the biggest premiere in Indian cinema, selling over one million tickets globally in advance bookings. In India alone, ticket sales have surged to nearly 15 lakh, with around half of them coming from paid preview shows scheduled before release.
For paid previews, the film has reportedly grossed ₹35 crore, surpassing the previous record held by Pawan Kalyan’s OG. Additionally, Day 1 advance bookings have contributed another ₹21 crore. Internationally, the film has crossed $5 million in pre-sales in North America, pushing its global advance booking collection beyond ₹125 crore.
Theatres Introduce 24-Hour Screenings
Due to overwhelming demand, theatres across major cities are now introducing round-the-clock screenings, a rare phenomenon in Indian cinema. The film’s nearly 4-hour runtime has limited the number of daily shows per screen, prompting exhibitors to extend screenings into late-night and post-midnight slots.
Multiplexes in cities like Mumbai, Thane, and Ahmedabad have already started scheduling shows as early as 1:50 AM, continuing throughout the day until late night. More theatres, especially in western and southern India, are expected to follow this trend.
‘DDLJ’ Gets Rescheduled At Maratha Mandir
In a significant move reflecting the film’s craze, Mumbai’s iconic Maratha Mandir has rescheduled the screening of the legendary Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, which has been running continuously for over 30 years.
Traditionally shown at 11:30 AM, the classic film has now been shifted to an early morning slot to accommodate Dhurandhar 2’s extended runtime and high number of shows.
A Rare Box Office Phenomenon
The surge in demand has led to unusual exhibition strategies, including extended show windows of nearly 4 hours 40 minutes per screening (including trailers, interval, and turnaround time). While 24-hour screenings may not be feasible everywhere due to logistical constraints, the trend signals one of the biggest theatrical releases in recent Indian cinema history.
With record-breaking advance bookings, global hype, and unprecedented screening schedules, Dhurandhar 2 is poised for a historic opening at the box office.
