MUMBAI, India —
Ranveer Singh’s espionage thriller Dhurandhar crossed the Rs 1,000 crore mark at the worldwide box office on Thursday, achieving the milestone in just 21 days and cementing its place as the fastest Hindi-language film to reach this historic benchmark. The Aditya Dhar-directed film collected Rs 1,006.7 crore globally, with Rs 668.8 crore earned domestically, overtaking Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan to become Bollywood’s highest-grossing film at the Indian box office.
The achievement marks a watershed moment for Hindi cinema, as Dhurandhar becomes the fourth Hindi film and ninth Indian film overall to enter the exclusive Rs 1,000 crore club. Industry analysts credit the film’s understated promotional campaign and powerful word-of-mouth momentum for its sustained theatrical run, particularly notable given its absence from lucrative Gulf markets where the film faced a ban.
Fastest ₹1,000 Crore Film in Hindi Cinema
Dhurandhar shattered previous Hindi film benchmarks by reaching the Rs 1,000 crore milestone in 21 days, significantly faster than Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, which took 18 days, and Pathaan, which required 27 days. The film maintained remarkable box office stability through its third week, collecting Rs 26 crore on Christmas Day—nearly matching its opening day collection of Rs 28 crore, an unusual feat for a film in its third week.
While Dhurandhar trails overall Indian cinema records set by Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2: The Rule, which crossed Rs 1,000 crore in just six days, and SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which achieved it in 10 days, the film represents a major commercial comeback for Hindi-only releases.
Beating Jawan and Other Box Office Records
The spy thriller surpassed Shah Rukh Khan’s 2023 action drama Jawan, which had collected Rs 640.25 crore domestically. Dhurandhar also eclipsed major 2025 releases to become the year’s highest-grossing Indian film, overtaking Kantara: Chapter 1’s Rs 852 crore worldwide haul and Chhaava’s Rs 807.91 crore global collection.
Released on December 5 with minimal promotional fanfare, Dhurandhar relied heavily on critical endorsements and audience recommendations following its theatrical debut. The strategic approach proved remarkably successful, as the film demonstrated unprecedented staying power across weekdays and weekends throughout its theatrical run.
“The film’s sustained momentum without traditional marketing blitzes reflects shifting audience preferences toward content-driven cinema,” said Komal Nahta, veteran trade analyst and editor of Film Information. “Dhurandhar’s performance validates that quality storytelling can override promotional budgets.”
Joining the ₹1,000 Crore Club
Dhurandhar joins an exclusive roster of nine Indian films that have crossed the Rs 1,000 crore threshold worldwide. The club includes Aamir Khan’s Dangal at Rs 2,070 crore, currently the highest-grossing Indian film of all time, and recent blockbuster Pushpa 2: The Rule, which collected Rs 1,871 crore.
Other members include SS Rajamouli’s RRR (Rs 1,230 crore), Yash’s KGF: Chapter 2 (Rs 1,215 crore), Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan (Rs 1,160 crore), Pathaan (Rs 1,055 crore), and Prabhas’s Kalki 2898 AD (Rs 1,042.25 crore).
The film features an ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal alongside Singh’s lead performance. Set against the backdrop of India-Pakistan tensions, the narrative follows an Indian intelligence operative sent to infiltrate Pakistan’s Lyari neighborhood and penetrate a Baloch criminal organization.
Sequel Already Announced
Capitalizing on the first film’s blockbuster performance, producers have announced Dhurandhar 2, scheduled for release on March 19, 2026, coinciding with the Eid holiday. The sequel will expand beyond the Hindi-only release strategy of the original, launching in five languages across India to tap into broader regional markets.
According to Box Office India, the multi-language approach reflects industry learnings from pan-Indian successes like RRR and the Pushpa franchise, which demonstrated massive revenue potential from simultaneous regional releases. The decision suggests confidence in the franchise’s appeal beyond traditional Hindi-speaking markets.
“The Rs 1,000 crore milestone validates Dhurandhar as a franchise property with significant expansion potential,” noted trade analyst Taran Adarsh in a statement to Bollywood Hungama. “The sequel’s multi-language strategy positions it to potentially surpass the original’s collections.”
A Different Approach to the Spy Thriller Genre
Unlike typical Bollywood spy thrillers that prioritize action spectacle and globe-trotting sequences, Dhurandhar adopted a grounded, character-driven approach focused on political intrigue and underworld dynamics. Director Aditya Dhar structured the nearly three-and-a-half-hour narrative with chapter divisions, extended dialogue sequences, and prolonged tension-building rather than conventional action set pieces.
The film’s restraint and emphasis on dramatic storytelling over visual spectacle distinguished it from previous Hindi spy franchises like Pathaan and Tiger, which relied heavily on international locations and elaborate action choreography. Critics praised Dhurandhar’s willingness to prioritize character development and political complexity, treating the spy framework as a dramatic vessel rather than an action template.
What the Film’s Success Means for Bollywood
Dhurandhar’s unprecedented theatrical run occurred despite competition from major releases including Avatar: Fire and Ash, which debuted during the film’s second week. The spy thriller maintained strong occupancy rates, registering 35.95% overall Hindi occupancy on its fifteenth day, with evening and night shows reaching 42.86% and 50.28% respectively.
Produced on a reported budget of Rs 140 crore, the film’s financial performance represents a return on investment exceeding 700%, according to industry estimates. The profitability ratio positions Dhurandhar among the most commercially successful Hindi films relative to production costs, alongside surprise hits like Stree 2 and Kantara.
The achievement comes as Bollywood navigates a transitional period marked by audience preferences shifting toward either large-scale spectacles or intimate, content-driven narratives, with mid-budget star vehicles facing increasingly challenging box office prospects. Dhurandhar’s success in the premium segment validates continued audience appetite for intelligently crafted mainstream cinema when executed with conviction and authenticity.
