Dhurandhar’s situation has worsened as release day approaches. A massive opening now looks unlikely. Advance bookings remain slow, forcing the makers to rely on word of mouth, evening footfalls and weekend growth to recover lost momentum.
Early expectations were far stronger. Trade predictions touched Rs. 50 crore after the teaser. The number dropped to Rs. 40 crore after the trailer and slid to Rs. 30 crore following the release of the songs.
Current booking trends suggest an opening near Rs. 20 crore. Even with last minute interest, the figure is unlikely to cross Rs. 25 crore. For a high budget film, this is well below industry hopes.
This has surprised trade circles, especially since the film faces no major competition for three weeks. A clear release window usually guarantees strong numbers, but Dhurandhar has failed to convert free space into box office heat.
Online reactions point to several reasons. The trailer ran longer than three minutes and struggled on Instagram due to platform limits. As a result, visibility dropped among younger viewers who drive opening day buzz.
The late trailer launch also hurt impact. During earlier packed weeks at theatres, it might have created stronger interest. Instead, promotion arrived when the audience had already shifted attention to other content.
Music also failed to click. Adding to the damage, Jio Studios comes with recent box office baggage after Singham Again and Baby John disappointed. Many now view the banner as unlucky rather than reliable.
Promotion remains the biggest miss. The team avoided aggressive city tours and large scale events. That silence failed to build urgency and left the film without a strong public pulse before release.
The bigger question now surrounds Ranveer Singh’s comeback. A weak opening raises doubts about the film’s long-term run and superstar narrative. Everything now depends on walk-ins and weekend audience reaction.
Only strong word of mouth can push Dhurandhar towards recovery. Crossing Rs. 200 to 300 crore will need a sharp turnaround from day one. The next few days decide whether this turns into damage control or disaster.
