BY CHRISTA LINCY

The Indian box office is currently witnessing a massive surge in cinematic euphoria as Dhurandhar: The Revenge prepares for its grand theatrical debut on March 19. Directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, the film has set the market on fire well before its wide release.The craze has reached such heights that exhibitors have officially opened advance bookings for shows as early as 6:00 AM starting this Thursday. Trade analyst Joginder Tuteja recently highlighted this peaking excitement, noting that theaters are operating at near-full capacity for these early morning slots. Discussions are already underway to include midnight screenings in key circuits to accommodate the surging demand. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   The film's performance in the advance booking window has been nothing short of spectacular, perfectly aligning with the sky-high expectations that have trailed the project since its announcement.As of the latest tracking, the film has generated a monstrous ₹28.19 Cr (₹28.2 Cr) in All-India advance booking through real ticket sales alone.When factoring in block seats, the total gross figure reaches a staggering ₹32.84 Cr.These numbers firmly cement the film's position in the elite league of the highest advance bookings in Bollywood history, proving that the audience's anticipation for this sequel is at an all-time high. Ultimately, Dhurandhar: The Revenge is moving beyond being just a standard film release and turning into a massive nationwide event. With a staggering ₹32.84 crore already secured in advance bookings and theaters adding 6:00 AM shows to handle the rush, the movie is perfectly positioned to deliver one of the biggest opening days in Bollywood history. The numbers confirm that the hype is real, and the film is set to dominate the box office from its very first show.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, March 14 - The much-awaited fifth instalment of the popular Golmaal franchise is slowly taking shape with the shoot finally kicking off recently. The franchise, headlined by Ajay Devgn, struck a major casting boost after Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar joined the ensemble as antagonist, though the official announcement regarding his casting is yet to be made. As the shoot for Rohit Shetty's directorial commenced, Golmaal 5's basic plot has reportedly been revealed. According to the reports, the film will revolve around a treasure-hunt adventure, giving the comedy series a fresh narrative twist. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) It is said that the story of Golmaal 5 revolves around a hidden treasure and a chaotic quest to find it. The film will reportedly follow the Golmaal gang as they get entangled in a chaotic search for a mysterious hidden treasure, leading to a series of hilarious situations and misadventures. The upcoming instalment is expected to blend the franchise's trademark slapstick humour with an adventure-style narrative. Reports suggest that the treasure hunt will trigger several comedic conflicts among the characters, with betrayal, confusion, and outrageous situations driving the story forward. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Rohit Shetty, the Golmaal series has remained one of Bollywood's most successful comedy franchises since its first film was released in 2006. With Golmaal 5, the makers are reportedly aiming to expand the scale of the story while retaining the ensemble comedy that audiences love. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

With less than a week remaining for the theatrical release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the film's promotional campaign is entering its final phase. The makers are set to host a large-scale music launch event in Mumbai on March 17, with reports suggesting that thousands of fans could attend the event. According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, the grand music album launch of Dhurandhar: The Revenge will take place at the NESCO Center in Goregaon on Tuesday, March 17. The event is expected to draw around 2,500 to 3,000 attendees, making it one of the largest promotional events for the film. The music launch is being presented by Spotify and entry for fans will be free, although attendees must register through the District App. The event page indicates that members of the cast and music team will be present, along with live performances during the evening. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   Lead actor Ranveer Singh and music composer Shashwat Sachdev are expected to appear on stage during the launch. The programme is reportedly planned to run for approximately two and a half hours.The event comes as part of the final promotional push ahead of the film's release. The soundtrack album is scheduled to be officially unveiled during the launch event in Mumbai. Before the release of Dhurandhar, the makers organised two promotional events — a trailer launch at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre followed by a music launch. For the sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the upcoming music launch appears to be the only major promotional event planned ahead of its theatrical release. Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar: The Revenge stars Ranveer Singh alongside Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Akshaye Khanna, and is scheduled to release in cinemas on March 19, 2026.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Chennai, March 14 - Vijay Sethupathi-fronted action thriller Maharaja (2024) was a huge blockbuster at the worldwide box office with nearly 200 crores gross, thanks to superb performance in China. There have been reports about the sequel to the film, and now, it seems to have been confirmed. During a recent interview, Vijay Sethupathi reportedly confirmed that director Nithilan Saminathan has locked the script for Maharaja 2. The actor expressed his excitement about hearing the narration and confirmed that the project is moving forward. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Released in June 2024, Maharaja turned into a box office juggernaut and emerged as Sethupathi's biggest blockbuster with almost 200 crores gross collection worldwide. The film had a rare Indian release in China, where it grossed over 90 crores as the highest-grossing Indian film there in recent years. Meanwhile, Vijay Sethupathi has multiple films in the pipeline. He will next be seen in Train, followed by Slum Dog: 33 Temple Road. Intrestingly, there have been reports that the sequel to his romantic drama, 96, is also in development, but it is yet to be confirmed officially. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, March 14 - The excitement surrounding Dhurandhar 2 continues to grow as the makers have officially opened full-fledged advance bookings across the country, having already grossed over 25 crores for paid premieres on March 18. The highly anticipated sequel, starring Ranveer Singh, is already generating tremendous buzz ahead of its release, with ticket sales continuing with solid momentum in India and overseas markets. Meanwhile, the first part of Dhurandhar, which was released in the first week of December last year and has been playing in theatres on limited screens, was expanded to over 1000+ screens this week ahead of the release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge. The film is still holding its ground at the box office even after a long theatrical run. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On its 99th day, the film managed to collect around 20 lakh, showcasing its remarkable staying power and sustained audience interest. Such late-run collections are rare for mainstream Indian films in today's time. With this, the total collection of the film now reached around 1006.50 crores gross in India and 1306 crores gross worldwide. The strong performance of the original film is further boosting the momentum for the sequel, which can already be seen in premiere sales. With bookings now fully underway, Dhurandhar 2 is expected to record massive pre-sales in the coming days, especially given the strong hype generated by its trailers, promotional campaigns, and the success of the first film. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) If the early trends continue, Dhurandhar 2 could be looking at one of the biggest openings for an Indian film ever. It is scheduled to release on March 19 in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

The upcoming Hindi action thriller Dhurandhar: The Revenge, starring Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar, is witnessing strong advance booking trends across international markets ahead of its worldwide release. Early tracking indicates significant momentum in North America, where the film’s premiere advance sales in the United States have reached approximately $982,374 across 678 locations, covering 1,684 shows and around 61,491 tickets sold. When Canada is included, the total North America premiere advances have crossed $1.2 million, marking the highest premiere advance for a Hindi film, surpassing the earlier advance sales benchmark set by Animal. The film is also showing solid traction in India ahead of its premiere shows. Current nationwide advance bookings stand at approximately ₹25.32 crore, while estimates including block bookings suggest the figure could reach ₹30.18 crore. These early numbers indicate strong initial demand in the domestic market as the film heads toward its theatrical release window. The strong advance sales have also sparked discussion in trade circles about the film’s potential overseas opening weekend performance. The current benchmark for the biggest overseas opening weekend by an Indian film is held by Pathaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, which grossed around $26 million internationally during its opening weekend. With six days remaining before premiere shows and steady advance bookings across North America and other international markets, trade analysts believe Dhurandhar: The Revenge could challenge—and potentially surpass—the overseas opening weekend record set by Pathaan if current trends continue. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   Recent years have seen several Indian films register strong overseas openings. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion collected around $22.5 million in its opening weekend overseas and went on to become one of the highest-grossing Indian films internationally, eventually collecting ₹ 371.16 Cr in overseas. Jawan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, opened to approximately $21.5 million overseas and later became the highest-grossing Hindi film worldwide, finishing with more than ₹1,100 crore globally. Pushpa 2: The Rule recorded an overseas opening weekend of about $19.2 million, reflecting the massive international popularity of the franchise led by Allu Arjun. Leo debuted overseas with roughly $18.2 million, becoming one of the biggest international openings for a Tamil film and contributing to the film crossing ₹600 crore worldwide. Meanwhile, Kalki 2898 AD started with an overseas opening of around $17.9 million and went on to become one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2024, earning more than ₹1,000 crore globally. The performance of Dhurandhar: The Revenge over its opening weekend will determine whether it can join—or potentially surpass—this list of major international debuts for Indian cinema, including the current overseas opening weekend benchmark of about $26 million held by Pathaan.

BY SACNILK TEAM

In a feat unheard of in modern Indian cinema, the blockbuster spy thriller Dhurandhar is set to continue its theatrical run until the release of its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, making it the first time in history a prequel will run until its sequel's launch. The original film is set to complete its 100th day in theatres tomorrow, a rare milestone in the post-pandemic era and a testament to its enduring popularity despite being available on Netflix. To celebrate this, the first installment was re-released globally on March 13, 2026, across more than 1000 screens. The hype is evident on BookMyShow, where over 500,000 users have marked interest for the upcoming sequel. The film's popularity is also reflected on ticketing platforms, with Dhurandhar selling over 1.3 crore tickets on BookMyShow, making it the highest-selling Hindi film on the platform. The milestone underscores the film's extraordinary theatrical demand and sustained audience interest, especially remarkable in an era where many films shift quickly to streaming platforms despite the movie already being available on Netflix. The sequel, slated for a worldwide release on March 19, 2026, is already shattering box office records with its advance bookings for premiere shows on March 18, scheduled across more than 9000 shows. The film has amassed over ₹50 crore in worldwide advance sales, with a prediction of a historic opening day of ₹100 crore. In India alone, the premiere gross has already crossed ₹24.4 crore, surpassing previous records for paid previews held by other major films. This high demand is reflected in premium ticket prices, with some recliner seats reaching ₹3,100 in cities like Mumbai. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   The international response has been particularly phenomenal, especially in North America. The film has already grossed approximately $3.50 million, around ₹32.5 crore, in overseas pre-sales for its opening weekend. The United States is leading this charge with nearly $2.25 million in sales for the extended four-day weekend, with states like Texas and California showing very strong pre-sale figures. The total advance collection for the North American premiere has already climbed to an impressive $1.2 million, surpassing the previous record held by Animal.The film's premium theatrical experience is further solidified by its confirmed release in AMC Dolby Cinema (Dolby Vision) across the USA. This makes Dhurandhar: The Revenge only the third Indian feature film to receive a Dolby release in the United States, following in the footsteps of RRR and Pushpa 2: The Rule In Canada, the film is witnessing an unprecedented surge with weekend pre-sales having already crossed the 900K mark and heading toward 1M shortly. This represents the biggest trend ever recorded for an Indian title in the region. A $10M opening weekend at the North American box office is now locked, making it the first Bollywood film and only the third Indian title—following Baahubali 2 and Kalki 2898 AD—to cross this milestone. Beyond North America, other territories in Europe, Asia, and Oceania have added nearly $1 million in advance bookings, placing Dhurandhar: The Revenge on path to become a historic global blockbuster.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Vishal Bhardwaj's latest directorial venture, O Romeo, which hit theaters on February 13, 2024, has concluded its initial theatrical run with a performance that highlights the growing disconnect between critical ambition and commercial reality. Despite the high-profile reunion of the filmmaker with Shahid Kapoor—a duo responsible for cult classics like Haider and Kaminey—the film struggled to translate its star power into a box office victory. Marketed as a gritty, modern-day romantic thriller featuring an ensemble cast including Triptii Dimri, Disha Patani, and Nana Patekar, the project was one of the most anticipated releases of the season, yet it faced an uphill battle in a volatile theatrical environment. In terms of financial performance, the latest trade data suggests that while O Romeo continues its theatrical run, it is currently trending toward being a commercial underperformer relative to its high production stakes. The film managed an India Net collection of ₹71.30 Cr, with its India Gross standing at ₹83.50 Cr. When supplemented by an overseas contribution of ₹24.75 Cr, the movie's worldwide total reached ₹108.25 Cr. Given the reported production and marketing budget estimated between ₹100 Cr and ₹130 Cr, the film fell significantly short of the recovery required to be classified as a hit. While the Valentine's Day opening provided a temporary boost, the lack of sustained momentum in the following weeks suggests that the niche treatment of the subject failed to capture the mass audience. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   This underwhelming box office response has prompted a candid reflection from Vishal Bhardwaj himself. In a recent interaction with PTI, the filmmaker voiced his concerns about the current state of Indian cinema, describing it as a very strange and difficult stage of filmmaking. He highlighted a frustrating new demarcation in the industry where producers often label content-driven scripts as OTT subjects, while streaming platforms conversely refuse to acquire them unless they have a prior theatrical release to establish brand value. Bhardwaj lamented that good films are getting beaten in the process of this tug-of-war, making it nearly impossible for cinema of the heart to survive the current distribution model. Beyond the lead pair of Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri, the film featured a powerhouse supporting cast including Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Nana Patekar, which added significant weight to the narrative. While critics generally praised the technical finesse and Bhardwaj's signature atmospheric storytelling, the commercial struggle of O Romeo serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing medium-to-high budget dramas in an era dominated by event spectacles.With its digital release expected soon, industry experts suggest the film may find better engagement on streaming platforms, which often cater more effectively to specialized, story-driven content.

BY SACNILK TEAM

Mumbai, March 13 - The much-awaited Bollywood romantic drama Cocktail 2, starring Shahid Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, and Kriti Sanon, has finally locked its theatrical release date. The makers have announced that the film will arrive in cinemas on June 19, 2026, creating major excitement among fans of the franchise. The sequel to the 2012 cult romantic drama Cocktail will once again be directed by Homi Adajania. The upcoming film brings a fresh star trio to the franchise, replacing the original cast of Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Diana Penty from the first film. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Producer Maddock Films also confirmed that the first look teaser of Cocktail 2 will be unveiled in theatres on March 18, coinciding with the paid preview shows of Dhurandhar: The Revenge. The strategic reveal is expected to give audiences their first glimpse of the film on the big screen before its full promotional campaign begins. The film reportedly revolves around a modern love triangle, continuing the theme of complicated relationships that made the original film popular. Shooting for the movie wrapped earlier in 2026, and it has now moved into the post-production phase ahead of its summer release. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, March 13 - Even before hitting the big screens, Ranveer Singh-fronted Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has begun its record-breaking journey at the box office. Aditya Dhar's directorial has created the record for the biggest paid premiere day at the Indian box office, beating Pawan Kalyan's They Call Him OG. Released in September last year, OG had its domestic premiere on September 24, on which the film scored a huge 25+ crores gross. The record no longer belongs to the Telugu biggie as Dhurandhar has beaten it with five days still left for the premiere shows to begin, which will kick off on March 18 from 5 PM. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The spy action thriller has topped 25+ crores advance sales (29+ crores with block seats) for the premiere, which effectively makes it the record premiere grosser in India. As per trade projections, the sequel is heading towards 35+ crores gross premiere in India, a record which is expected to remain unshakable for some time. The demand from Dhurandhar 2 is hitting the roof, not just in India but in overseas markets also. In North America, the film has already scored nearly $2 million in pre-sales for the opening day. The overall advance sales of the movie are nearly 50 crores worldwide for day 1, despite the sales not opening in India beyond the premieres. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, Dhurandhar: The Revenge is the second part of Dhurandhar, which was released in December last year and went to become a box office juggernaut with over 1300 crores gross worldwide collection. Trade is expecting the sequel to beat its predecessor's lifetime numbers within two weeks, which is unprecedented and remains to be seen. Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, March 18 - Ranveer Singh's highly anticipated action spectacle Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is shaping up to deliver one of the biggest openings in the history of Indian cinema. Based on the current booking trends and trade estimates, the film is now targeting a 200 crore worldwide opening day, including paid premieres. Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar 2's worldwide advance sales for the opening day have already crossed 100 crore gross, and this includes 42 crore gross (without block seats) for the domestic premiere alone. The strong pre-sales momentum indicates massive demand both in India and overseas markets ahead of its release. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to current trends, the film could record 45+ crore gross from paid premieres in India alone. Combined with the already strong international advances, the total worldwide collections from premieres alone could reach around 65+ crore even before the full opening day begins. On the first full day (March 19), Dhurandhar 2 is expected to target 100+ crore gross in India. The overall domestic opening day might climb to around 150 crore gross, which would be unprecedented for a Hindi film. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Meanwhile, overseas markets are also expected to contribute heavily. The film could earn around 50 crore or more from international territories on opening day, led by strong pre-sales in North America. If these projections materialise, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge could deliver a historic 200 crore worldwide opening day, becoming the first Bollywood film ever to reach that milestone on Day 1 and setting a new benchmark for Hindi cinema at the global box office. Seeing the current trend in pre-sales, a 200 crore opening looks well within sight. Practically, there is no major competition for the movie, except in Telugu states, where Pawan Kalyan's Ustaad Bhagat Singh will be dominating the screens. However, a capacity issue might restrict the film from scoring a double century, which needs to be seen. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK TEAM

Mumbai, March 13 - Ahaan Pandey is not rushing in his career as the young actor is taking time to shape his future film lineup after the blockbuster debut with Saiyaara last year. Mohit Suri's directorial debut made him an overnight star, leading to several offers from filmmakers. Ahaan is doing Ali Abbas Zafar's yet untitled romantic action film. According to reports, the actor rejected nearly a dozen films before locking in Zafar's film. According to Bollywood Hungama, the heartthrob has been offered two more films, including one by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. It is said that Anand L Rai and Mehra have approached the actor for two different films, and he seems to have liked both the projects. Rakeysh Mehra has reportedly offered his ambitious Mahabharta epic, Karna, which he originally planned with Tamil star Suriya. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) "Karna is an ambitious action spectacle, and the stakeholders feel Ahaan is the best pitch to bring this character from the Mahabharata on screen. Ahaan is amused by the vision and will soon decide on his take for the film", said the report. Interestingly, Mehra recently said the Karna script is ready, but the project was pushed back due to logistical issues. Ahaan has also liked an idea pitched by Anand L Rai, whose last directorial was Tere Ishk Mein, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon. It will be interesting to see what the actor picks after his immediate next with Abbas Zafar, which is currently in production and is expected to release early next year. Stay tuned...