BY SACNILK TEAM

Mumbai, March 18 - Ranveer Singh-fronted Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, directed by Aditya Dhar, has created history at the Indian box office with massive paid previews. The film's paid preview collections have crossed a staggering 50 crore gross in all versions, making it the biggest premiere performance ever recorded in India by a massive margin. Previously, Pawan Kalyan's OG had the biggest premiere with 25+ crore gross in India, and Dhurandhar 2 has beaten that by an unheard margin. What makes this feat even more extraordinary is the gap between Dhurandhar 2 and the previous Bollywood record holder. The biggest Bollywood premiere grosser before this was Stree 2, which had collected just over 10 crore from its preview shows. In comparison, Dhurandhar 2 has delivered nearly five times that figure, setting a benchmark that may be difficult to surpass anytime soon. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) However, it is important to note that 50+ crore gross includes collections from some dubbed-version shows that were cancelled across multiple regions. The refunded amounts from these cancelled shows will slightly reduce the final realised preview total. Even with this adjustment, the film's premiere earnings remain comfortably ahead of any previous record, underlining its unprecedented demand. The response has been driven by phenomenal advance bookings and strong occupancy across key Hindi circuits. The scale of turnout for preview screenings reflects the immense hype surrounding the sequel and its star-studded ensemble. With such a historic start, Dhurandhar 2 is now poised for a thunderous opening day. Early trends suggest that the film is well on track to challenge the ₹100 crore mark on Day 1, backed by the momentum generated from its record-shattering previews. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Noted filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has shared a highly enthusiastic reaction to Dhurandhar 2 The Revenge after attending an early screening of the film. Known for his unconventional and often provocative takes on cinema, Varma took to social media to describe the sequel as a monumental achievement for the industry. He stated that the films sheer cumulative impact in terms of audience euphoria and cinematic grammar makes it a SHOLAY x 100 level magnificence, adding that it raises the bar for Indian filmmaking to an unprecedented height. In his characteristic style, Varma compared the Aditya Dhar directorial to legendary classics, suggesting that its psychological and audio-visual impact makes earlier masterpieces like Mughal E Azam appear modest in comparison. He described the release as the BIRTH of a NEW CINEMATIC ORDER and claimed it signals a ruthless extinction of previous cinematic norms. The filmmaker further emphasized that the technical and narrative achievement of the movie is bound to redefine how directors and audiences perceive high-stakes action dramas in the future. After last nights watch of #Dhurandhar2 in terms of it’s sheer cumulative impact in every which way , whether on it’s expected collections , audience euphoria , social influences , cinematic grammar breaking , and above all the psychological audio visual impact , it will be a…— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) March 18, 2026 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The director also reserved high praise for the films helmer, Aditya Dhar, stating that the very definition of a director will now be associated with his name. Varma went as far as to suggest that even global icons like Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan should take note of the films impact. This high-profile endorsement comes at a time when the movie is already witnessing record-breaking advance bookings, further fueling the anticipation ahead of its official wide release on March 19. While the film has faced some technical disruptions regarding regional language content delivery in South India today, such vocal support from industry veterans like Varma highlights the significant buzz in the Hindi circuit. With the film projected to be a major box office contender, these early reactions are contributing to the growing euphoria surrounding the sequel. The spy-actioner features an ensemble cast led by Ranveer Singh and is expected to open across a massive release platform of over 17,000 shows nationwide.

BY SACNILK TEAM

Here is the Malayalam movie Aadu 3 box office collection, which is a fantasy comedy film. This film is directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas and produced by Friday Film House and Kavya Film Company. ## Aadu 3 stars Jayasurya, Vinayakan, Vijay Babu, Saiju Kurup, Sunny Wayne, and Indrans in key roles. ## Aadu 3 Box Office Collection Day Wise | All Language [See Footfalls] DayIndia Net Collection Change(+/-) Day 1 [1st Thursday] ₹ 6.03 Cr - Day 2 [1st Friday] ₹ 6.48 Cr 7.46% Day 3 [1st Saturday] ₹ 7.28 Cr 12.35% Day 4 [1st Sunday] ₹ 7.26 Cr -0.27% Day 5 [1st Monday] ₹ 3.36 Cr -53.72% Day 6 [1st Tuesday] ₹ 2.59 Cr -22.92% Day 7 [1st Wednesday] ₹ 2.03 Cr -21.62% Day 8 [2nd Thursday] ₹ 1.6 Cr -21.18% Week 1 Collection ₹ 36.63 Cr - Day 9 [2nd Friday] ₹ 1.45 Cr -9.38% Day 10 [2nd Saturday] ₹ 2.28 Cr 57.24% Day 11 [2nd Sunday] ₹ 2.65 Cr 16.23% Day 12 [2nd Monday] ₹ 1.1 Cr -58.49% Day 13 [2nd Tuesday] ₹ 1.13 Cr 2.73% Day 14 [2nd Wednesday] ₹ 1.11 Cr -1.77% Day 15 [3rd Thursday] ₹ 0.73 Cr -34.23% Week 2 Collection ₹ 10.45 Cr -71.47% Day 16 [3rd Friday] ₹ 0.71 Cr -2.74% Total ₹ 47.79 Cr (estimated) - ## Take Subscription To See Footfalls ## India Net Collection ₹ 47.79 Cr ## Worldwide Collection ₹ 116 Cr ## Overseas Collection ₹ 60.75 Cr ## India Gross Collection ₹ 55.25 Cr ## Aadu 3 Budget: ₹ - Cr * Approx ## Aadu 3 Verdict: Coming Soon ## Aadu 3 Screen count ## India: - ## Overseas: - ## Worldwide total: - ## Release Date: 19th March 2026 ## For more and the latest news about Mollywood Box Office Collection, Stay tuned to us.Aadu 3 State Wise Gross CollectionDayKarnatakaAPTGTamil NaduKeralaRest Of IndiaDay TotalDay 1 [1st Thursday]₹ 0.6 Cr₹ 0.05 Cr₹ 0.15 Cr₹ 6.05 Cr₹ 0.15 Cr₹ 7 CrDay 2 [1st Friday]₹ 0.48 Cr₹ 0.07 Cr₹ 0.1 Cr₹ 6.7 Cr₹ 0.1 Cr₹ 7.45 CrDay 3 [1st Saturday]₹ 0.72 Cr₹ 0.08 Cr₹ 0.25 Cr₹ 7.15 Cr₹ 0.25 Cr₹ 8.45 CrDay 4 [1st Sunday]₹ 0.6 Cr₹ 0.08 Cr₹ 0.17 Cr₹ 7.25 Cr₹ 0.25 Cr₹ 8.35 CrDay 5 [1st Monday]₹ 0.25 Cr₹ 0.01 Cr₹ 0.04 Cr₹ 3.55 Cr₹ 0.05 Cr₹ 3.9 CrDay 6 [1st Tuesday]₹ 0.2 Cr₹ 0.01 Cr₹ 0.04 Cr₹ 2.7 Cr₹ 0.05 Cr₹ 3 CrDay 7 [1st Wednesday]₹ 0.15 Cr₹ 0.02 Cr₹ 0.03 Cr₹ 2.1 Cr₹ 0.05 Cr₹ 2.35 CrDay 8 [2nd Thursday]₹ 0.11 Cr₹ 0.01 Cr₹ 0.02 Cr₹ 1.66 Cr₹ 0.05 Cr₹ 1.85 CrWeek 1 Gross₹ 3.11 Cr₹ 0.33 Cr₹ 0.8 Cr₹ 37.16 Cr₹ 0.95 Cr₹ 42.35 CrDay 9 [2nd Friday]₹ 0.09 Cr₹ 0.01 Cr₹ 0.02 Cr₹ 1.55 Cr₹ 0.02 Cr₹ 1.69 CrDay 10 [2nd Saturday]₹ 0.15 Cr₹ 0.02 Cr₹ 0.03 Cr₹ 2.4 Cr₹ 0.04 Cr₹ 2.64 CrDay 11 [2nd Sunday]₹ 0.2 Cr₹ 0.02 Cr₹ 0.03 Cr₹ 2.75 Cr₹ 0.07 Cr₹ 3.07 CrDay 12 [2nd Monday]₹ 0.06 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 1.2 Cr₹ 0.01 Cr₹ 1.27 CrDay 13 [2nd Tuesday]₹ 0.07 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 1.25 Cr₹ 0.01 Cr₹ 1.33 CrDay 14 [2nd Wednesday]₹ 0.06 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 1.18 Cr₹ 0.01 Cr₹ 1.25 CrDay 15 [3rd Thursday]₹ 0.02 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0.01 Cr₹ 0.8 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0.83 CrWeek 2 Gross₹ 0.65 Cr₹ 0.05 Cr₹ 0.09 Cr₹ 11.13 Cr₹ 0.16 Cr₹ 12.08 CrDay 16 [3rd Friday]₹ 0.02 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0.8 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0.82 CrDay 17 [3rd Saturday]₹ 0.02 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0.75 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0.77 CrDay 18 [3rd Sunday]₹ 0.03 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0.01 Cr₹ 1.25 Cr₹ 0.01 Cr₹ 1.3 CrDay 19 [3rd Monday]₹ 0.01 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0.4 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0.41 CrDay 20 [3rd Tuesday]₹ 0 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0.32 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0.32 CrDay 21 [3rd Wednesday]₹ 0 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0.32 Cr₹ 0 Cr₹ 0.32 CrTotal₹ 3.84 Cr₹ 0.38 Cr₹ 0.9 Cr₹ 52.13 Cr₹ 1.12 Cr₹ 58.37 Cr ##

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar 2 The Revenge is arriving in cinema halls today with paid previews starting from 5:00 PM onwards. The film has already shattered several franchise records in advance sales across the country, emerging as a massive domestic grosser even before its official opening day. While the spy-actioner is turning out to be a game-changer for Hindi films, its preview advance collections of 42.71 crore have already outperformed the entire opening day gross of the original Dhurandhar, which stood at 33.60 crore. When accounting for blocked seats, the preview gross for the Aditya Dhar directorial climbs to a staggering 47.91 crore. This represents a significant leap in franchise value compared to the first installment, which recorded a net of 28.00 crore across 6,230 shows on its debut. The sequel is currently seeing a much wider release footprint and a heightened level of audience engagement, effectively doubling the prequel's opening momentum through previews alone. The regional performance further highlights this upward trajectory. In Maharashtra, the sequel has secured 9.82 crore in preview sales, nearly five times the 2.08 crore earned by the first film on its opening day. Karnataka has also seen a major spike, with Dhurandhar 2 recording 6.57 crore in advance sales compared to the original films 1.05 crore. These numbers underscore the expanded reach of the brand in traditional high-performing circuits. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Key metropolitan hubs like Delhi-NCR and Mumbai are driving the bulk of the revenue. In the Delhi-NCR region, the films Hindi 2D version has garnered 7.06 crore in advance sales for previews, a sharp increase from the 2.19 crore recorded on the first films opening day. Mumbai followed suit with 6.38 crore, nearly quadrupling the 1.35 crore debut of its predecessor. With an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and R. Madhavan, the film is positioned to set new benchmarks for the genre. This record-breaking performance in paid previews suggests that Dhurandhar 2 is positioned for one of the largest openings in recent history. By establishing a dominant box office presence before the sequel even officially opens, Ranveer Singh is set to become the next hero after Shah Rukh Khan to deliver back-to-back 1000 crore grossers. Achieving this feat within a span of just three months is a rare occurrence in Indian cinema, highlighting the actors massive box office pull. The film is scheduled to release in multiple formats and languages nationwide across 17,000

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Dhurandhar 2 Becomes All-Time No. 1 on BookMyShow as Ranveer Singh Starrer Shatters Jawan's Record with 14.81 Lakh Tickets Sold.The advance booking for Dhurandhar 2 The Revenge has reached a historic milestone on India's largest ticketing platform, BookMyShow. As of March 18, which is exactly 24 hours before its grand theatrical release, the Aditya Dhar directorial has recorded 14.81 lakh ticket sales on the platform alone. This achievement officially places the film as the all-time leader in pre-sales volume, surpassing the previous benchmark set by Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan. The surge in bookings highlights a massive trend for the espionage thriller, which features an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, and R. Madhavan. When comparing ticket sales exactly 24 hours before their respective releases, the top five movies in terms of all-time BookMyShow pre-sales are now led by Dhurandhar 2 with 14.81 lakh tickets. Following this same 24-hour benchmark, Jawan recorded 11.02 lakh tickets, Animal reached 7.24 lakh tickets, Tiger 3 stood at 4.73 lakh tickets, and Chhaava rounded out the list with 4.69 lakh tickets. These figures represent the final momentum each film achieved on the platform just one day prior to hitting the big screen. Jawan held the previous record for the opening day and was known for its rapid booking pace, selling over 20,260 tickets in a single hour during its peak period. Animal recorded one of the fastest hourly booking rates in platform history, selling over 80,000 tickets in just sixty minutes. It broke several records for a non-holiday release, with its advance booking trends being described as some of the biggest seen in Indian cinema. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Other films in the top five have also set significant benchmarks. Tiger 3 demonstrated strong momentum in national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, selling over 1.02 lakh tickets in those specific multiplexes by the morning of its release. It also surpassed films like Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani in advance sales to become one of the top earners from pre-sales at that time. Chhaava, while recording 4.69 lakh pre-sales on the platform, eventually became a massive long-term performer. It reached a milestone of 12 million total ticket sales on the platform over its entire run, becoming the first-ever Hindi film to do so. The current momentum for Dhurandhar 2 suggests a monumental opening at the box office. By crossing the 14 lakh mark on a single platform exactly 24 hours before release, the film has effectively outperformed the opening-day pre-sales of every major blockbuster released in the post-pandemic era. With the film set to release in 17,000 plus shows nationwide in multiple languages, the focus now shifts to its actual Day 1 performance at the ticket windows. Early trends indicate that the film is a dominant force in both multiplexes and single-screen bookings across the country.

BY SACNILK TEAM

Mumbai, March 18 - In a heartfelt message to fans, filmmaker Aditya Dhar expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming love received by Dhurandhar while making a sincere appeal ahead of the release of its sequel, Dhurandhar The Revenge. The note, shared on social media, reflects the emotional journey of the film and its connection with audiences worldwide. Recalling the release of Dhurandhar on December 5, 2025, Dhar highlighted how audiences didn't just watch the film but truly embraced it. He acknowledged fans for appreciating every detail, engaging in discussions, and even discovering nuances he hadn't expected anyone to notice. According to the director, the film gradually transformed from being his vision to belonging to the audience, then the nation, and eventually gained global recognition. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Speaking about the making of Dhurandhar The Revenge, Dhar emphasised the team's commitment to delivering a deeply emotional and surprising cinematic experience. He noted that the sequel has been crafted with immense passion to ensure audiences feel every twist and emotion as intended—preferably on the big screen, surrounded by fellow viewers. The core of his message, however, was a strong and heartfelt request to fans - not to share spoilers. Dhar stressed that every viewer deserves to experience the film with fresh eyes and form their own personal connection with the story, without prior revelations dampening the impact. He concluded the note by thanking fans for making Dhurandhar what it is today and placing his trust in them to protect the essence of the sequel. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) 🙏🧿♥️#DhurandharTheRevenge releases worldwide on 19 March, on Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, and Eid.Hindi | Telugu | Tamil | Kannada | Malayalam @ranveersingh @rampal72 @duttsanjay @actormaddy #AkshayeKhanna @saraarjunn @therakeshbedi @adityadharfilms #JyotiDeshpande @dhar_lokesh… pic.twitter.com/wgO61vrUUQ— Aditya Dhar (@AdityaDharFilms) March 18, 2026 Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The high-octane espionage thriller Dhurandhar 2 The Revenge has demonstrated significant momentum ahead of its theatrical release on March 19. Current data indicates that the film has already sold over 10 lakh tickets across major national cinema chains for its opening weekend, with the premieres alone accounting for approximately 400,000 of those sales. This surge in pre-sales highlights the high level of anticipation for the sequel, which follows the undercover operations of Indian intelligence agents on a high-stakes mission. The all-India advance booking for the film's premiere shows has reached ₹42.71 crore in gross collections. When accounting for blocked seats, this figure rises to ₹47.91 crore. The Hindi version of the film is a primary driver of this performance, accounting for ₹40.42 crore of the total gross. To date, approximately 8,62,562 tickets have been sold for the Hindi language screenings alone, reflecting strong interest in the northern and central regions. For the official opening day on March 19, the film has secured ₹33.60 crore in advance sales, including blocked seats. More than 7 lakh tickets have been booked for Day 1 across a massive release platform of over 17,000 shows nationwide. The scale of the release is intended to accommodate the heavy demand seen in major metropolitan hubs, where additional early morning and late-night shows have been scheduled. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's performance in international markets reflects a strong global footprint, particularly in North America. According to data reported by Venky BoxOffice, North American advance sales for the opening day, including premieres, have reached $2.85 million (₹26.3 crore). Total overseas advance sales for the opening day stand at $4 million (₹36.9 crore). For the full opening weekend, pre-sales in North America have already climbed to $6.4 million (₹60 crore), while the total overseas collection has reached $9 million (₹93 crore). This global momentum highlights a significant start for the production as it rolls out across various 2D and premium formats. Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar 2 The Revenge features an ensemble cast led by Ranveer Singh, alongside Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, and Sara Arjun. The narrative serves as a direct continuation of the previous installment, focusing on themes of national security and high-risk intelligence work. The film is being released in multiple languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, to maximize its reach across different demographics.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Speculation is mounting regarding the official release date of Vignesh Shivan's upcoming sci-fi romantic comedy, Love Insurance Kompany (LIK). A recent social media update from the director has sparked rumors that the film may finally hit theaters on April 3, 2026. Sharing a post on Instagram, Shivan highlighted the date April 3rd! alongside a cryptic caption referencing the industry adage that one Friday can change everything. By phrasing the question, Is this going to be that Good a Friday!?, the director strongly hinted at a release coinciding with the Good Friday holiday, though a formal confirmation from the production houses, Rowdy Pictures and Seven Screen Studio, is still pending. The film, which features a high-profile cast including Pradeep Ranganathan, S. J. Suryah, and Krithi Shetty, is set in a futuristic version of the world between 2035 and 2040. The narrative reportedly follows a young man who uses a time-travel device to find pure love, only to encounter a corporate-driven society where the Love Insurance Kompany, led by S. J. Suryah's character, commercializes and monitors romantic relationships. With music by Anirudh Ravichander, the project has generated significant buzz for its unique blend of technology and romance. The anticipation for Love Insurance Kompany is fueled largely by the remarkable box office streak of its lead, Pradeep Ranganathan. Since his breakout as an actor-director, Ranganathan has consistently delivered high-yielding projects.His directorial debut Love Today was a massive success, earning a worldwide gross of ₹83.55 Cr (with an India net of ₹66.57 Cr) and securing a Blockbuster verdict. This was followed by the high-octane Dragon, which further solidified his stardom by crossing the ₹150 Cr mark worldwide, earning a Blockbuster status with an India net of ₹102.55 Cr.His most recent outing, Dude (2025), continued this winning trend as a Superhit, collecting approximately ₹114.30 Cr worldwide with an India Net of ₹73.13 Cr. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With this consistent run of three major hits, Pradeep Ranganathan has effectively ascended to the Tier-2 grade of Tamil cinema stars. His transition from a successful director to a reliable lead actor is being compared by industry insiders to the early career trajectories of established stars. There is now a palpable sense of box office confidence surrounding his projects; distributors and theater owners increasingly view his films as a minimum guarantee for strong openings, particularly among the youth and family demographics. This newfound status as a bankable hero has fundamentally changed how his films are scheduled. The industry no longer treats his releases as experimental projects, but as major commercial tentpoles. However, the path to the big screen has been marked by several scheduling shifts. Love Insurance Kompany was initially linked to a September 2025 release, which was later moved to October 17 to coincide with Diwali. That date was reportedly vacated to avoid a box-office clash with another Pradeep Ranganathan starrer, Dude. Subsequent plans for a December 18, 2025, release were also deferred, likely to avoid the heavy competition from the global release of Avatar: Fire and Ash. This latest hint suggests the makers are now prioritizing the lucrative summer holiday window. If the April 3rd date is indeed the final choice, the production team faces a remarkably tight window for marketing and promotions. Industry observers note that for a high-concept film involving sci-fi elements and time travel, a robust promotional campaign is usually essential to familiarize the audience with the premise. Despite the limited time remaining, the strategic advantage of a holiday weekend—starting with the Good Friday break—could provide the necessary momentum for a strong opening, provided the official announcement arrives shortly.

BY SACNILK TEAM

Mumbai, March 18 - The much-anticipated horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla marks the reunion of filmmaker Priyadarshan and actor Akshay Kumar, a duo known for delivering several memorable entertainers over the years. Their collaboration has often resulted in successful films, and expectations are once again high as they come together for this genre-driven project rooted in humour and the supernatural. In a recent interview, Priyadarshan opened up about the core idea behind Bhooth Bangla. The filmmaker revealed that the film draws heavily from age-old folklore and supernatural beliefs that have been part of Indian culture for centuries. He emphasised that the narrative is not just about scares, but also reflects stories and myths that people have lived with and passed down through generations. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While maintaining secrecy around the detailed plot, Priyadarshan confirmed that Bhooth Bangla will blend horror with comedy, one of his most successful storytelling spaces. The director is known for creating entertaining films that balance humour with engaging narratives, and this project is expected to follow a similar tone with a strong supernatural backdrop. Speaking about Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan credited the actor for being a "lucky mascot" in his filmmaking journey. Having collaborated on multiple successful films in the past, the director expressed confidence that their reunion will once again strike the right chord with audiences. He highlighted Akshay's impeccable comic timing and adaptability as major strengths that enhance such genre-driven films. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Produced by Balaji Motion Pictures and Cape of Good Films, Bhooth Bangla also stars Wamiqa Gabbi, Paresh Rawal, Tabu, Jisshu Sengupta, Asrani, and Rajpal Yadav in key roles. The film is scheduled to release on April 10 worldwide. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The Indian film industry is bracing for one of its most interesting box office encounters as Telugu superstar Pawan Kalyan and Bollywood's Ranveer Singh are set to face off at the ticket windows for the third time in their careers. With the upcoming release of Ustaad Bhagat Singh and Dhurandhar 2 both scheduled for March 19, 2026, fans and trade analysts are revisiting a rare hat-trick of clashes that has spanned over 15 years. This recurring competition between a regional powerhouse and a Hindi cinema icon has consistently provided a unique look into how high-budget films from different industries perform when they share the same release window. The history of this rivalry began on December 9, 2011, when Pawan Kalyan's stylish action-thriller Panjaa, directed by Vishnuvardhan, debuted alongside Ranveer Singh's second feature film, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl. At the time, Panjaa was produced on a significant budget of ₹33 crore and witnessed a massive worldwide opening with 85-95% occupancy in its first weekend. However, after the initial surge, the film saw a weekday dip to 60-75% occupancy. On the other hand, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl performed steadily, eventually collecting ₹49.40 crore gross worldwide, with a net collection of ₹32.97 crore. While Panjaa is now remembered as a cult favorite for its technical finesse, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl was officially declared an Average performer at the box office, marking a relatively balanced first encounter between the two stars. While the March 2026 date marks their third direct same-day clash, the two stars have previously dominated the same month during other major windows. A notable instance occurred in January 2018, when Pawan Kalyan's Agnyaathavaasi and Ranveer Singh's magnum opus Padmaavat both arrived in theaters within the same month. Although they were not day-and-date releases, the two films created a massive January battle for screen space and audience attention, further establishing a pattern of these two stars anchoring the biggest release periods in the Indian film calendar. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The second clash occurred more recently on July 28, 2023, during a much larger and more competitive theatrical landscape. Pawan Kalyan's fantasy-drama Bro went head-to-head with Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt's romantic blockbuster Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. The numbers from this encounter highlight the distinct market strengths of both actors; Bro achieved a worldwide gross of ₹114 crore, driven largely by its strong domestic performance in the Telugu states across 14,095 shows. Conversely, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani showcased massive global appeal, amassing a staggering ₹357.50 crore worldwide gross, with nearly half of that revenue coming from overseas markets (₹175 crore) across over 61,000 shows. While Bro served its core fan base effectively, Ranveer Singh's film demonstrated a dominant presence in the multiplex and international circuits. Now, all eyes are on March 19, 2026, as the two actors prepare for their most high-stakes encounter yet. Pawan Kalyan's Ustaad Bhagat Singh, directed by Harish Shankar, has high expectations due to the director's previous track record with the actor, while Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar 2 represents a massive leap into the spy-action genre under Aditya Dhar's direction. Unlike previous clashes where the films catered to largely different demographics, the current trend of pan-India releases means these two biggies will compete directly for screens and attention across major metropolitan hubs. As exhibitors look for consistent hits to stabilize the market, this third installment of the Pawan Kalyan vs Ranveer Singh saga is expected to be a major talking point for the 2026 box office calendar.

BY SACNILK TEAM

Advance booking for Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is showing exceptional momentum across India's national multiplex chains, placing the film among the biggest Hindi pre-sale performers in recent years. Early trends indicate that the Ranveer Singh starrer has sold close to six lakh tickets across major chains for opening day and paid previews combined, bringing it close to the historic benchmark set by some of the largest blockbusters in Hindi cinema. Early booking data suggests that Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is witnessing strong demand across multiplex circuits nationwide. The film has reportedly sold nearly 600,000 tickets across national chains for Day 1 including paid previews, signalling one of the strongest pre-sale performances for a Bollywood release. The surge is particularly visible at PVR INOX, India's largest multiplex chain, where the film has already crossed 150,000 tickets in advance bookings. This marks the highest-ever premiere day pre-sale recorded for a Bollywood film at the chain, underlining the scale of anticipation ahead of release. To place these numbers in context, the following films currently hold the highest Day 1 advance booking ticket sales across national multiplex chains for Hindi releases: Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (Hindi) – 6.50 lakh tickets Jawan – 5.57 lakh tickets Pathaan – 5.56 lakh tickets KGF: Chapter 2 (Hindi) – 5.15 lakh tickets Animal – 4.60 lakh tickets (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With advance sales nearing the six lakh ticket mark, Dhurandhar 2 is now positioned very close to the all-time benchmark established by the Hindi version of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. However, the comparison also comes with an important structural difference. Baahubali 2 achieved its record-breaking national chain advance sales primarily through regular opening-day bookings in 2017, at a time when large-scale paid preview screenings were not a common strategy in India. In contrast, Dhurandhar 2 has scheduled extensive paid previews a day before release, with tickets for those shows going on sale alongside the opening-day bookings. As a result, the film's cumulative advance ticket count includes both premiere previews and Day 1 sales, which has further accelerated its pre-sale momentum. The film's advance booking momentum has been supported by strong demand in multiplex-driven markets such as Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Premium formats and late-night shows are witnessing rapid occupancy growth, while the addition of paid preview screenings has further boosted early ticket sales. Dhurandhar 2 is firmly on course to surpass existing benchmarks and claim the No. 1 spot for Day 1 advance bookings in the history of Hindi cinema. The film's rapid ticket sales across national chains indicate that it is set to move past previous record-holders and establish a new opening-day pre-sales milestone, highlighting the extraordinary anticipation surrounding the sequel.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Actor Vivek Sinha, who plays a pivotal antagonist in Aditya Dhar's highly anticipated action-thriller Dhurandhar 2, has recently shared the overwhelming and sometimes extreme reactions he has received from the public. Speaking about the impact of his performance in the franchise, Sinha revealed that his portrayal of a high-stakes antagonist has evoked unexpectedly strong emotions from viewers, leading to thousands of comments that often blur the line between his on-screen persona and his real-life identity. In a recent interview regarding his work in the series, Sinha disclosed that he has received nearly 1,700 harsh comments across social media platforms. He noted that a common sentiment among viewers was that his performance felt so authentic that it seemed like a real terrorist was standing right in front of them. Far from being offended, Sinha stated that he views such reactions as a major compliment to his craft, as it confirms that he successfully delivered the menace and intensity required for the character in a film that explores high-tension geopolitical themes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The actor highlighted several specific interactions that illustrated the visceral nature of the audience's response. He mentioned that one individual went as far as to threaten him, stating they would come to Pakistan and kill him, while another fan—a young woman—reached out to ask if she could abuse him, explaining that while she admires his acting, his character in Dhurandhar made her feel genuine anger. These reactions underscore the gritty and realistic tone that director Aditya Dhar has aimed for in the sequel, which was recently granted an A certificate by the censor board for its intense and graphic content. Sinha also reflected on his journey with the franchise, recalling how director Aditya Dhar initially surprised him during the trailer launch of the first film. Dhar had informed him that his performance was so impactful that it was chosen to be the opening scene of the entire movie. Following the success of the first installment, Sinha's role has seemingly expanded in Dhurandhar 2. The actor admitted that his presence in the sequel's trailer and the scope of his character exceeded his own expectations, further cementing his position as a key figure in the Ranveer Singh-led action epic.