Ranveer Singh and Aditya Dhar’s much-awaited Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is scheduled for a grand Eid release on March 19, and early signs suggest it could open with earth shattering numbers.
The makers are also planning a special strategy to boost the film’s collections right from the start. According to trade reports, the film will have paid premiere shows across India on the evening of March 18 from 5 PM. These premiere screenings allow audiences to watch the film early by paying for special tickets at a premium price. If all goes according to the plans, the film could easily break existing premiere show records in Hindi cinema.
At the moment, the record for the biggest premiere collections belongs to Pushpa 2: The Rule, which reportedly earned around Rs. 10.65 crore from its premiere shows in Hindi. It is followed by Stree 2 with about Rs. 8.5 crore and Chennai Express with around Rs. 6.75 crore. Trade analysts believe that if the excitement around Dhurandhar 2 continues to grow, the film will easily cross Rs. 10 crores from premiere shows alone and might even go close to Rs. 20 crores.
However, the situation becomes more interesting because Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh is also releasing on the same day, March 19 but only in Telugu. Reports suggest that this film may also have paid premiere shows on March 18.
Trade circles believe that if both films hold premieres on March 18, it could impact Ustaad Bhagat Singh in a big way. While Pawan Kalyan has a very loyal fan base that will definitely support the film, the response from neutral moviegoers in the Telugu states may be different. According to some trade analysts, many regular cinema lovers might choose to watch Dhurandhar 2 first due to the unprecedented hype.
Even in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Dhurandhar 2 has generated huge interest. In comparison, Ustaad Bhagat Singh has not yet created the same level of excitement among general audiences, at least until now.
Another factor being discussed is ticket pricing. Early reports suggest that premiere tickets for Ustaad Bhagat Singh could be priced around Rs. 1000, while Dhurandhar 2 tickets may be closer to Rs. 300. If that happens, the price difference could influence audience choices. Many viewers may prefer to watch a heavily hyped film and a potential cinematic gem like Dhurandhar 2 at a lower price rather than spend three times higher amount on a routine commercial entertainer.
Trade experts also believe that some theaters might prefer screening Dhurandhar 2 if its demand remains stronger despite less ticket prices. Ustaad makers should plan carefully or else this premiere strategy might backfire big time.
Because of these factors, the real box office battle between the two films may begin with the premiere shows themselves. The stage is set, and the excitement is only starting to build.
