Mumbai (MNN); Bollywood’s latest action-drama Dhurandhar has emerged as a major box office force, collecting an impressive Rs218 crore in its opening week despite facing a complete ban across Gulf countries.
The Ranveer Singh starrer, directed by Aditya Dhar, has quickly positioned itself among 2025’s highest-earning releases, demonstrating remarkable staying power throughout its first seven days.
The film’s day-to-day earnings highlight its strong momentum. It opened on Friday with Rs28.60 crore, followed by Rs33.10 crore on Saturday and a robust Rs44.80 crore on Sunday.
After the weekend, Dhurandhar continued to hold steady, drawing Rs24.30 crore on Monday, Rs28.60 crore on Tuesday, Rs29.20 crore on Wednesday, and Rs29.40 crore on Thursday. Analysts noted that Thursday’s numbers even topped the opening day collection, a rare trend that underscores positive word of mouth and audience retention.
Released with an A certificate and without the advantage of any holidays or extended weekends, the film still managed to pull strong crowds in both major metros and smaller tier-2 and tier-3 markets. Trade observers say such consistent performance across regions reflects the film’s broad appeal, driven by high-octane action sequences, emotional subplots, and Ranveer Singh’s commanding presence on screen.
However, Dhurandhar’s international release has been clouded by controversy. All six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman — have blocked the movie from theatrical screening.
According to regional reports, censorship authorities refused certification due to what they considered politically sensitive and anti-Pakistan messaging within the storyline. This move aligns with earlier decisions by Gulf nations to restrict films with themes perceived as politically charged or likely to stir regional tensions.
Despite the Gulf ban, which has cost the film a significant overseas market, domestic response has been strong enough to compensate. Industry analysts predict that Dhurandhar could cross Rs100 crore again in its second weekend alone, placing it firmly on track for a major lifetime haul. Trade projections indicate that the film may comfortably enter the Rs350–400 crore club if current trends continue.
In its first week, Dhurandhar has already overtaken the lifetime domestic collections of several big-budget productions. These include Sikander (Rs109.83 crore), Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani (Rs53.55 crore), and Red 2 (Rs173.05 crore). The film’s rapid ascent on the earnings chart suggests it may soon surpass additional 2025 hits, solidifying its status as one of the year’s most commercially successful titles.
For now, Dhurandhar stands as a testament to strong audience support, resilient box office pull, and the growing appetite for high-energy mainstream cinema. With its second weekend expected to deliver another surge in collections, the film appears well-placed to set new benchmarks despite geopolitical hurdles abroad.
