Aditya Dhar’s action thriller Dhurandhar is not arriving as a single film this Friday. The makers have split the project into two parts. What was expected to be one story on the big screen now begins as the first chapter of a two-film release plan.
Advance bookings opened on Sunday, but early numbers remain modest. Around 1.25 lakh tickets have sold across PVR, Inox, and Cinepolis. This equals roughly Rs 3.75 crore so far, which trade trackers say looks average for a large-scale project like Dhurandhar.
Trade analysts believe the collections do not match the film’s reported budget size. Box Office India has also reported bulk and block bookings. These bookings add to the total but raise eyebrows about how organic the demand truly is.
The sudden decision to release the film in two parts has triggered heavy debate. Trade voices say recovering the investment from a single film looked difficult. The two-part strategy gives the makers two chances to earn through theatres, OTT rights, and television deals.
Early trends show stronger bookings in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Smaller markets such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh show weak interest. This gap points to an urban-driven performance rather than broad mass support.
Many cinema watchers see the timing as a rescue move. Block bookings, heavy promotion, and the split release create the impression of damage control. The team has said enough footage already exists, so no extra shoots were needed for the second film.
Dhurandhar Part 1 now depends on a solid opening in major cities to survive. If the first film fails to connect, the second may struggle to recover costs. The plan looks bold, but the risk remains high.
Dhurandhar Part 1 stars Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, and Sunjay Dutt. The film releases in theatres on December 5, 2025. The release date for Part 2 remains unannounced and depends on the first film’s performance.
