The beginning of this year has not been very encouraging for the Indian film industry in the UAE-GCC market. Several major releases have either been postponed or shifted away from the Eid festival window. As a result, overseas box office performance in the region has remained noticeably weak.
Although Dhurandhar 2 is scheduled to release during Eid, reports suggest the film may face a ban in Gulf countries. This possibility has already raised concerns among distributors and exhibitors who depend heavily on the region’s overseas market.
Another film that was expected to help revive the market was Toxic. However, the project has now moved its release to June because of the ongoing Iran-US situation. This shift has further reduced the number of major Indian releases planned for the Gulf region.
Meanwhile, Jana Nayagan is also unlikely to release soon, adding to the uncertainty. Border 2 has reportedly faced issues similar to Dhurandhar 2 in the Gulf region. Among recent releases, The RajaSaab managed to collect around $0.45 million.
Interestingly, Malayalam films Sarvam Maya and Eko reportedly performed better in the same markets. Even then, the overall numbers remain far lower than last year’s figures. Previous successful titles included L2 Empuraan, Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra, Saiyaara and Coolie.
According to reports, the combined losses in the UAE-GCC market could be close to $15 million. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh noted that this region plays a crucial role in strengthening overseas box office collections for Indian films.
Trade expert Atul Mohan also expressed concern about the possible ban on Dhurandhar 2. He explained that exhibitors in the region depend mainly on big commercial releases. Smaller films usually struggle to generate similar business in overseas markets.
However, some experts believe Akshay Kumar’s Bhooth Bangla could bring fresh momentum when it releases next month. Others expect films like Ustaad Bhagat Singh and Drishyam 3 to attract strong audiences in the Gulf region.
Despite these expectations, uncertainty continues because of the current geopolitical situation. Industry observers say last minute decisions on film releases cannot be ruled out.
Meanwhile, several online users have shared a different perspective. Many believe that domestic box office performance in India now plays a bigger role than overseas numbers.
Still, the UAE-GCC market remains important for global revenue. The coming months will reveal whether the current release disruptions will significantly impact Indian film producers and distributors.
