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Dhurandhar sequel sparks unprecedented cinema rush
India's multiplexes are witnessing an extraordinary surge as Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the highly anticipated sequel to last year's blockbuster spy thriller, draws massive crowds. The film, which opened last week, has already sold over 1.5 million advance tickets across five languages, signaling a revival of the country's theatrical experience.
The original's box office dominance
The first Dhurandhar, released in December 2025, redefined Hindi cinema's commercial landscape. The three-hour-34-minute thriller, blending espionage, gang warfare, and patriotic themes, grossed approximately $155 million (£116.34 million) worldwide, cementing its place among the highest-grossing Hindi-language films. Its success directly boosted footfall for PVR Inox, India's largest multiplex chain, which reported a 9% year-on-year increase in attendance and a 13% rise in overall box office collections for the quarter ending December.
A sequel bigger, louder, and more divisive
Clocking in at nearly four hours, Dhurandhar: The Revenge expands on its predecessor's high-octane formula. The film follows Ranveer Singh's swaggering spy as he delves deeper into Karachi's criminal and political underworld, this time joined by a star-studded cast including R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and Sara Arjun. Shot back-to-back with the original and released just three months later, the sequel amplifies the first film's spectacle-propulsive action, raw violence, and a thunderous score-while intensifying its ideological tone.
The film loosely weaves real South Asian geopolitical flashpoints into its narrative, from Pakistan's Operation Lyari to India's 2016 demonetisation. While some viewers praise its scale and ambition, others criticize its heavy-handed nationalism and reduction of complex geopolitics to simplistic binaries.
Mixed reactions: spectacle vs. substance
Audiences have embraced the film's unapologetic extravagance. Emerging from theaters, many describe it as paisa vasool-a Hindi phrase meaning "worth every rupee." The marathon runtime, rather than deterring viewers, has become part of the experience, with cineplexes running up to three dozen shows daily from early morning to late night.
"The sequel is creating history. It is shattering all previous records and redefining the box office. A true game changer."
Taran Adarsh, film trade analyst
Celebrities have fueled the hype, with Allu Arjun praising its "patriotism with swag," Preity Zinta calling it "mind-blowing," and Anupam Kher hailing it as "outstanding-a film that makes you feel deeply proud of your country."
Critics, however, offer a more nuanced take. While acknowledging the film's technical craftsmanship, some argue it sacrifices narrative depth for chest-thumping spectacle. One reviewer notes the sequel leans into "volume and venom," while another describes it as brimming with "more rage than it knows what to do with." On Reddit, reactions are similarly divided, with users debating whether the hype inflates the experience or if the film truly delivers.
Politics and propaganda: the flashpoint debate
The film's political messaging has sparked sharp discussions. Some viewers accuse it of blatant propaganda, particularly in a sequence referencing India's 2016 demonetisation. The film portrays the policy as a masterstroke to cripple Pakistan's fake currency networks, despite the government's own Economic Survey acknowledging its adverse economic impact.
Former foreign secretary Nirupama Rao weighed in on the broader implications of the first film in a Times of India op-ed. She warned that while films don't start wars, they can normalize hostility, citing the backlash against critics as evidence of "a shrinking tolerance for dissent in matters framed as national security."
A cultural phenomenon beyond cinema
Dhurandhar's influence has extended far beyond theaters. Finland's President Alexander Stubb sparked online chatter after casually mentioning the film during a morning jog in London's Hyde Park with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. In a video shared on X, Stubb revealed his son had urged him to watch it before a trip to India. "I am happy to fight against terrorism and look forward to the sequel," he quipped.
French President Emmanuel Macron also referenced the film, posting a video on X set to its title track during his February visit to India. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh likens the frenzy to the 1975 classic Sholay, which ran for five uninterrupted years in Mumbai and became a cultural touchstone.
"Dhurandhar signals audiences returning to cinemas after a slump. People are buying tickets again, housefull boards are back. It is the resurrection of the big Bollywood hit. It's reshaping the business."
Taran Adarsh
The future of Bollywood's big-screen revival
With packed halls and record-breaking sales, Dhurandhar: The Revenge has reignited India's love affair with the theatrical experience. Whether the sequel's success marks a lasting shift or a fleeting moment remains to be seen, but for now, it has undeniably restored the unique electricity of the cinema hall-the whistles, the applause, and the collective hush before a twist lands.
