Bollywood
Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is not just setting records at the national and global box office, but its performance in Karnataka is emerging as one of the most interesting box office stories of its run. Karnataka has traditionally been a market dominated by Kannada and Telugu films, with only a handful of Hindi films managing to perform strongly in the state. Dhurandhar 2, however, is emerging as one of the biggest Hindi film performers in the state in recent years.
Historically, non-Kannada films that performed at an extraordinary level in Karnataka were mostly Telugu big-budget spectacles such as Baahubali 2, Pushpa 2, RRR and Kalki 2898 AD. These films had strong Telugu market penetration and dubbed versions which helped them perform across the state beyond Bengaluru city. Hindi films, on the other hand, traditionally depended heavily on multiplex business in Bengaluru and had limited reach in the rest of Karnataka. This trend has slowly started changing in the post-pandemic era with large-scale pan-India films.
The dominance of local cinema in Karnataka can be understood better by looking at the all-time highest-grossing films in the state.
Highest Grossing Movies in Karnataka (All Languages)
RANK
MOVIE NAME
TOTAL GROSS
1
Kantara Chapter 1
₹247+ Cr
2
Kantara (2022)
₹183.60 Cr
3
KGF Chapter 2
₹183 Cr
4
KGF Chapter 1
₹135 Cr
5
Baahubali 2
₹129 Cr
The list above clearly shows that the Karnataka box office is largely dominated by Kannada films, with Kantara and KGF franchise films occupying most of the top positions. Baahubali 2 remains the only non-Kannada film in the top five highest-grossing films of all time in Karnataka, which shows how difficult it is for films from other industries to reach the top tier in this market. This is why the performance of films like Baahubali 2, Pushpa 2 and now Dhurandhar 2 becomes significant, as these films are among the few non-Kannada films that have managed to perform at a very high level in the state.
Baahubali 2 was the film that completely changed the box office landscape in Karnataka for non-Kannada films when it released in 2017. The film performed at unprecedented levels and became the benchmark for all non-Kannada films in the state. Years later, Pushpa 2 continued the trend and again demonstrated the massive potential of Telugu pan-India cinema in Karnataka. These films were not just hits; they expanded the overall market size for non-Kannada films in the state.
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In comparison, Hindi films rarely reached those levels historically. Even big Bollywood blockbusters usually performed strongly only in Bengaluru and Mysuru circuits, while Telugu and Tamil films dominated mass circuits across the state. The first Dhurandhar film itself was considered a very strong performer for a Hindi film in Karnataka, collecting numbers comparable to several Telugu releases, which was a rare achievement for Bollywood in the state.
Now with Dhurandhar 2, the trend appears to be moving further. The sequel opened to very strong numbers in Karnataka and maintained excellent momentum through the first week and second weekend, indicating strong acceptance beyond just the multiplex audience. This is significant because for a Hindi film to sustain in Karnataka beyond the opening weekend, it usually requires either exceptional word of mouth or franchise value, and Dhurandhar 2 seems to be benefiting from both.
The larger significance of Dhurandhar 2's performance in Karnataka is not just about the final number it will achieve, but what it represents for the Hindi film market in South India. For many years, Telugu and Tamil films expanded into North India and became pan-India successes, but the reverse was relatively rare. With films like Pathaan, Jawan, and now Dhurandhar franchise, Hindi films are slowly expanding their reach in South Indian markets as well.
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If the current trend continues, Dhurandhar 2 could emerge as one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of all time in Karnataka and one of the biggest non-Kannada performers in the state in recent years. More importantly, it would signal a shift where large Hindi franchise films can perform in South Indian markets not just as urban hits but as broader regional successes.
In trade terms, this run is important not only for the film itself but for the overall Hindi film market in Karnataka. A strong performance here increases the theatrical value of future Hindi big-budget films in the state, improves distribution pricing, and expands the market size. That is why Dhurandhar 2's Karnataka performance could have long-term implications beyond just the box office numbers of this film.
In conclusion, Dhurandhar 2's Karnataka run should not be viewed only in terms of collections, but in terms of market expansion. Just like Baahubali 2 and Pushpa 2 expanded the non-Kannada film market in Karnataka, Dhurandhar 2 has the potential to further strengthen the position of large-scale Hindi franchise films in the state, which could have long-term implications for the theatrical market going forward.
