Post by : Meena
Hassan
Ranveer Singh’s new film, Dhurandhar, has made waves globally, surpassing the ₹1000 crore milestone at the box office. This spy thriller, helmed by Aditya Dhar, is a two-part series that has emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025. Set in Karachi’s Lyari area, the narrative features Ranveer Singh in the role of an Indian spy infiltrating a Pakistani gang, alongside co-stars like Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun.
Although the film enjoyed success in India and other regions, it faced a significant setback due to bans in several Middle Eastern countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. This restriction has led to an estimated loss of around ₹90 crore (circa $10 million) in overseas revenue.
Pranab Kapadia, the overseas distributor for Dhurandhar, expressed the importance of the Gulf market for Indian action films, noting their historical success there. He stated that the ban caused a crucial loss of about $10 million, and despite intensive efforts to ensure a release in the Gulf, compliance with local laws was paramount.
In spite of the challenges, the film found a vast audience elsewhere. The release timing during the holiday season proved beneficial, as many fans from Gulf nations were able to watch it while traveling to Europe or the US.
Pranab remarked, “Numerous fans from the Gulf traveled abroad during the December holidays, allowing them to catch a screening of Dhurandhar. The coincidence of the release with the festive period definitely expanded its reach despite the ban.”
Dhurandhar has been lauded for its captivating narrative and in-depth depiction of anti-terror operations and geopolitical challenges. While reviews have been mixed, its remarkable box office performance attests to the film’s broad appeal.
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