BY CHRISTA LINCY

The digital landscape for upcoming Indian cinema is currently experiencing a significant shift in audience engagement, as reflected in the latest 24-hour interest trends on BookMyShow. These metrics have become a vital tool for trade analysts to measure pre-release buzz and potential box office openings. Leading the current wave of interest is the sequel Awarapan 2, followed closely by the mythological epic Ramayana and the highly anticipated horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla. These figures highlight a clear preference for established director-actor reunions and large-scale pan-Indian collaborations. Awarapan 2 has secured the top spot in daily engagement, recording 17,000 interests within a single 24-hour window. This surge has pushed its total interest likes on the platform to over 115K+. Much of the excitement is centered around the professional association of actor Emraan Hashmi and director Nitin Kakkar for this highly anticipated sequel. As the franchise returns to the screen following the 2007 cult classic Awarapan—which gained legendary status for its intense storytelling and successful soundtrack—the involvement of Nitin Kakkar has generated significant digital traction among fans awaiting the first official promotional assets. Following in the second position is Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, which recorded 10,000 new interests in just one day, bringing its total likes to 86.9K+. The project features a high-profile cast with Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash playing the role of Ravana. The scale of the production, combined with Tiwari's reputation for delivering massive hits like Dangal, has made it a focal point for moviegoers across India. This film represents the first major association between Kapoor and Yash, further boosting its cross-industry appeal. Akshay Kumar's Bhooth Bangla occupies the third spot with 2,000 interests in the last 24 hours and a total count exceeding 106K+ likes. The film marks a landmark reunion between Akshay Kumar and director Priyadarshan after a 14-year hiatus. Their previous work, including Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Hera Pheri, remains a benchmark in the comedy-horror genre. The film's digital presence is already substantial, with the motion poster garnering 25 million views in its first 24 hours and surpassing 50 million total views across platforms. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dacoit follows in the ranking with 1,200 interests recorded in the same period. The film has steadily built an audience base, reaching over 45,000 total likes on the platform. Meanwhile, the Yash-starrer Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups has recorded 1,000 interests in the last 24 hours. Despite the lower daily count compared to sequels, Toxic holds the highest total engagement on this list with over 523,000 total likes. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the project has seen a strategic shift in its schedule, with the release date moving from March 19 to June 4 to avoid the Dhurandhar wave. The films initial title reveal video was a massive digital success, securing over 40 million views. Peddi rounds out the list with 1,000 daily interests and a total of 144K+ likes. The film has maintained its presence in the digital charts through consistent updates and production stills that have regularly trended on social media. As these six titles move closer to their respective theatrical releases, the daily and total interest counts on BookMyShow provide a reliable indicator of the evolving audience sentiment and the competitive nature of the upcoming domestic box office calendar. Upcoming Movies - BookMyShow Interest Trends (Ranked by 24h Views)MOVIE NAMEINTERESTS (LAST 24 HOURS)TOTAL INTEREST LIKESAwarapan 217,000115K+Ramayana10,00086.9K+Bhooth Bangla2,000106K+Dacoit1,20051.3K+Toxic1,000523K+Peddi1,000144K+

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Dhurandhar 2 The Revenge has emerged as a significant player in the international market, currently holding the sixth position among the highest-grossing Bollywood films overseas. With a collection of 375.00 crore as of its sixteenth day, the film reflects a growing global appetite for stylized Indian action franchises. However, while its trajectory is notable, a look at the films occupying the top five spots reveals a critical trend: the immense influence of the Chinese market in establishing historical box office records that remain difficult to surpass. Aamir Khan remains the most successful Indian star internationally, occupying the top two positions. Dangal leads the list with a total overseas collection of 1,535.30 crore. This figure is primarily driven by its historic run in China, where it earned 1,305.29 crore ($203 million). Secret Superstar follows in second place with 831.47 crore ($124 million plus) in overseas markets. Despite a modest budget of 15 crore, it became the second Indian film to surpass the $100 million mark abroad. This success was also largely dependent on the Chinese audience, pushing its total worldwide gross beyond the 900 crore mark. Salman Khan holds the third spot with Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which collected 489.47 crore overseas. The film earned 295.76 crore ($45.54 million) from China alone. Interestingly, its distribution strategy differed from Aamir Khan's hits. While Secret Superstar was allotted nearly 57,000 shows and Dangal had 27,000, Bajrangi Bhaijaan operated on 25,000 shows across 8,000 plus screens. Despite fewer shows, it received a high 9.6 rating from over 2.60 lakh users on the Maoyan website, indicating strong local resonance. The current era of global cinema is dominated by Shah Rukh Khan, with Jawan and Pathaan securing the fourth and fifth positions. Jawan has grossed 400.00 crore overseas, while Pathaan follows closely at 397.50 crore. These films represent a shift in trend, as they achieved these massive figures without relying on a full China release, instead drawing strength from the Middle East and Western markets. This momentum is also reflected in the rise of the Dhurandhar franchise. Dhurandhar 2 The Revenge has reached 375.00 crore overseas by its 16th day, significantly outpacing the first installment which concluded its run at 299.50 crore. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top 10 Bollywood Overseas Grossers (All Time)MOVIE NAMEOVERSEAS COLLECTION (INR)Dangal₹ 1,535.30 CrSecret Superstar₹ 831.47 CrBajrangi Bhaijaan₹ 489.47 CrJawan₹ 400.00 CrPathaan₹ 397.50 CrDhurandhar 2 The Revenge(Day 16)₹ 375.00 CrAndhadhun₹ 347.62 CrPK₹ 303.00 CrDhurandhar₹ 299.50 CrAnimal₹ 255.00 Cr Other notable entries include the thriller Andhadhun, which grossed 347.62 crore overseas. A significant 330.54 crore of this total came from China, highlighting the country's preference for high-concept thrillers. PK, another Aamir Khan starrer, sits at 303.00 crore. Its international journey is a clear indicator of the China factor; before its release there, it had an overseas total of 174.72 crore. The eventual addition of 117.27 crore ($20.06 million) from the Chinese market boosted its lifetime international total significantly. Animal rounds out the top 10 with 255.00 crore, marking a rare success for a high-age-rating drama in global markets. Bollywood Movies - China Box Office BreakdownMOVIE NAMETOTAL OVERSEAS (INR)CHINA COLLECTION (INR)CHINA COLLECTION (USD)Dangal₹ 1,535.30 Cr₹ 1,305.29 Cr$ 203.00 MBajrangi Bhaijaan₹ 489.47 Cr₹ 295.76 Cr$ 45.54 MAndhadhun₹ 347.62 Cr₹ 330.54 Cr$ 48.20 MPK₹ 303.00 Cr₹ 117.27 Cr$ 20.06 M The rankings confirm that while action franchises are seeing rapid growth in the current market, the ceiling established by drama-led successes in China remains the highest benchmark for Bollywood. As distribution models continue to evolve, the balance between North American diaspora markets and local audience engagement in East Asia continues to shape the commercial success of Indian films abroad.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, April 4 - After two back-to-back all-time blockbusters in the form of Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar 2, the high-flying Ranveer Singh is gearing up to start his next film, titled Pralay. The actor is teaming up with Jai Mehta in his feature film directorial debut. Pralay is said to be a post-apocalyptic thriller, which is one of its kind in Indian cinema. However, over the last few weeks, there have been rumours that Pralay is an adaptation of José Saramago's 1995 novel, Blindness. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Amid the growing speculation, filmmaker Hanshal Mehta, who is the father of Jai, has dismissed the rumours and said that it is an original story that was developed by Jai with his co-writer Vishal Kapoor. Hanshal Mehta said that a novel like Blindness is not easily adapted to film. The senior filmmaker said that he had seen the 2008 film adaptation of Blindness (Julianne Moore Mark Ruffalo) and said that it wasn't a great one. In Blindness, the story is centred around a mysterious epidemic that causes widespread societal collapse. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Meanwhile, Pralay is currently in the deep pre-production and is expected to go on floors by mid-2026. Malayalam actress Kalyani Priyadarshan plays the female lead in the film, which involves a lot of VFX work. The film will be produced by Mehta's True Story Films in association with Ranveer's Ma Kasam Films. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Malayalam cinema's latest sequel, Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Bros, has opened to a solid response at the box office. Within just two days of its theatrical release, the film has maintained steady momentum across both domestic and international circuits. As the movie enters its third day, early trends indicate a positive reception from the audience, ensuring a strong start for its opening weekend. The performance of Vaazha 2 is even more striking when compared to the lifetime figures of its predecessor, Vaazha: Biopic of a Billion Boys. The original film concluded its theatrical run with a worldwide gross of ₹38.25 Crore (₹27.65 Crore in India and ₹10.60 Crore overseas) and an India net of ₹23.46 Crore over 20,604 shows. In a significant jump for the franchise, the sequel has already amassed over 50% of the prequel's total lifetime collection in just two days. Most notably, Vaazha 2's two-day overseas collection of ₹12.75 Crore has already crossed the first part's entire international run, highlighting the massive surge in the brand's global appeal. Vaazha 2 has achieved a staggering worldwide gross collection of ₹24.35 Crore in just its first 48 hours. The domestic market has contributed a solid ₹11.60 Crore India Gross, while the overseas markets have been a major pillar of strength. In terms of profitability, the film has already crossed the ₹10.00 Crore India Net collection mark across 2,406 shows nationwide. This rapid climb to double digits indicates that the film is comfortably on its way to being a massive blockbuster. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The Day 1 performance in Kerala was particularly historic. Opening with a massive ₹5.00 Crore gross in the state, Vaazha 2 has secured the #2 spot for the highest opening day of 2026 in Kerala, trailing only behind the powerhouse Aadu 3 (₹6.05 Cr). This opening has officially set the stage for a record-breaking weekend, as the Mass euphoria continues to sweep through every theater in the state. When looking at the overseas performance, the numbers are truly mind-boggling, especially in the GCC belt. The film's overseas growth has been exceptional; after a strong Day 1 gross of ₹4.50 Crore, it witnessed a massive jump on Day 2 to collect ₹5.50 Crore, taking the total international tally to a clean ₹10.00 Crore ($1.1M+). The surge in the Middle East is palpable, with Day 2 collections ($725K) nearly doubling the opening day figures ($375K). This level of Phase 1 growth in the Gulf is a clear indicator that the film has struck a chord with the diaspora. The digital footprint of the film is equally legendary. On BookMyShow, Vaazha 2 has registered 352K ticket sales for Day 2 alone, making it the all-time second-best performance on the platform, second only to Thudarum. Even more impressive is the Peak Hourly Sales data, where the film reached a high of 22.1K tickets per hour. This puts it in the elite league of Malayalam cinema giants, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with big-budget extravaganzas like Empuraan (96.1K), Thudarum (35.5K), and Aadu 3 (22.8K). As we head into the crucial Sunday shows, the trade sentiment is Riotous. With high occupancy rates across all centers and a star-studded lineup that has delivered on the promise of the first part, Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Bros is looking at a historic first-weekend total.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

If you thought the Hukum fever had settled down, think again. The global box office is bracing for an absolute tsunami as Superstar Rajinikanth has officially wrapped up the shooting for the highly anticipated sequel, Jailer 2. Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar and backed by the powerhouse Sun Pictures, the film has now entered the post-production phase. But if you thought the first installment was a storm, the sequel is shaping up to be a total category-5 hurricane. With director Nelson Dilipkumar at the helm and Sun Pictures pulling out all the stops, the industry is buzzing about a release window set for June or August 2026. And wait until you hear about the casting coup that is currently sending shockwaves through the trade circles. The most explosive news coming out of the production is the reported confirmation of Shah Rukh Khan joining the Jailer universe. In what is being described as a pivotal, star-studded collaboration, King Khan is expected to play a significant role—likely a high-ranking police officer or a close confidant to Rajinikanth's legendary Muthuvel Pandian. This isn't just a cameo; it's a strategic masterstroke that unites the two biggest fanbases in the country. Imagine the screen burning up as Rajinikanth and SRK share the frame. To understand why the stakes are so high, we have to look back at the sheer carnage the first Jailer caused at the ticket windows. The prequel was a monster, raking in a massive ₹604.50 Crore worldwide. It dominated the domestic circuit with a ₹408.50 Crore India Gross, with over ₹200 Crore coming purely from the South Indian heartland. But the real story was the audience's obsession—the film registered an eye-popping ₹21 Crore ($2.5 million) in advance bookings on BookMyShow and saw nearly 1.5 lakh fans return to theaters for repeat viewings. By the end of its run, it had moved over 9 million tickets, proving that when the Thalaivar brand hits, it hits like a ton of bricks. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) For the sequel, Nelson isn't just resting on those laurels; he's building a Pan-Indian brotherhood that is unprecedented. While Mohanlal and Shiva Rajkumar are set to reprise their iconic characters from the first part, the guest list for Jailer 2 reads like a Who's Who of Indian cinema. Nandamuri Balakrishna (NBK) is reportedly stepping in for a solid guest role, while Vijay Sethupathi has confirmed a special appearance out of sheer respect for the Superstar. Add to this the inclusion of Bollywood veteran Mithun Chakraborty, the versatile SJ Suryah, and the powerhouse Vidya Balan, and you have a recipe for a global box office explosion. Adding to the high-octane glamor quotient, it is now confirmed that Nora Fatehi will be bringing her signature energy to a massive dance number, ensuring the pulse stays racing throughout the film. Currently, Jailer holds a prestigious spot in the Top 15 grossers in the Gulf with $6.53 Million and a staggering ₹196 Crore ($25M+) total overseas haul. However, with the addition of SRK and a lineup that spans from Tollywood to Bollywood, Jailer 2 will perform a complete earth-shattering takeover. We are looking at a film that could potentially double those overseas numbers, especially in territories where SRK and Rajinikanth both reign supreme. The Hukum is about to go global on a scale we've never seen before.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Dhurandhar 2 The Revenge recorded one of the highest third Friday collections in the history of Hindi cinema, collecting around 20.25 Cr on Day 16, which was its third Friday. This puts the film among the biggest third Friday performers of all time alongside films like Dhurandhar, Chhaava, Pushpa 2 and Baahubali 2 The Conclusion. In comparison, Dhurandhar still holds the highest third Friday collection with 22.50 Cr, while Dhurandhar 2 The Revenge follows in second position. Chhaava collected 13.00 Cr on its third Friday, Pushpa The Rule Part 2 collected 11.30 Cr, and Baahubali 2 The Conclusion collected 10.05 Cr on its third Friday. It is also important to note the release calendar differences while comparing these numbers. Dhurandhar 2's Day 16 fell on Good Friday, which is a holiday in many parts of India, helping the film record a higher third Friday number.These holiday windows often boost collections, especially for big films that already have strong momentum at the box office. However, even after considering the holiday factor, Dhurandhar 2 maintaining such a high number in its third week shows the film's strong theatrical hold and sustained audience demand. What makes this even more interesting is the gap between the third Friday collections and the total collections by Day 16. While Dhurandhar still holds the highest third Friday number, Dhurandhar 2 has already crossed a much higher total Hindi net by this stage, which indicates that its overall weekly trend has been stronger. In comparison, films like Chhaava, Pushpa 2 and Baahubali 2 had lower cumulative totals at a similar stage despite strong runs. This suggests that Dhurandhar 2's box office performance has been driven not just by big weekends but by strong weekly totals and sustained momentum across multiple weeks, which is a key indicator of long-run box office strength. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With this trend, Dhurandhar 2 The Revenge has already performed extraordinarily well, breaking multiple records and setting new benchmarks at the box office. Its consistent run so far clearly establishes it as one of the biggest Hindi films, and with strong momentum still intact, it is expected to continue its impressive journey in the coming weeks. Highest 3rd Friday Collections - Hindi Movies MOVIE NAME 3RD FRIDAY COLLECTION TOTAL NET (HINDI) WORLDWIDE COLLECTION Dhurandhar ₹ 22.50 Cr ₹ 840.20 Cr ₹ 1,307.35 Cr Dhurandhar 2 The Revenge ₹ 20.25 Cr ₹ 899.54 Cr ₹ 1,523.58 Cr(As of day 16) Chhaava ₹ 13.00 Cr ₹ 585.70 Cr ₹ 807.91 Cr Pushpa The Rule Part 2 ₹ 11.30 Cr ₹ 812.14 Cr ₹ 1,742.10 Cr Baahubali 2 The Conclusion ₹ 10.05 Cr ₹ 510.99 Cr ₹ 1,788.06 Cr

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, April 4 - Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor has confirmed that both parts of Ramayana, scheduled to release a year apart, will have a runtime of over 6 hours. Ranbir is playing Lord Rama in director Nitesh Tiwari's epic, while Sai Pallavi plays Goddess Sita, Yash plays Ravana, Sunny Deol plays Lord Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey plays Laxman. While confirming the potential runtime, Ranbir Kapoor revealed interesting details about the roles he is playing. During an interaction with Hollywood media after the Rama glimpse launched a couple of days ago, Ranbir unintentionally confirmed he is playing a dual role. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dual Role and Ramayana Part 2 Shooting When the interviewer pressed, the actor said that he is playing Lord Rama and Lord Parashurama, and the recently released teaser gave a glimpse of it. He also confirmed that the shooting for Ramayana Part 2, at least for him, is already 50% done and is expected to be wrapped before the first part's release. Speaking further, the Bramhastra actor said that playing Lord Rama is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him. Interestingly, the actor had earlier refused to play Lord Rama as he felt that it was a massive responsibility. But when he became the father of Raha, his perspective changed and that made him take this massive challenge. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Ramayana Teaser Recieved Positive Response Apart from the intentional negativity towards the teaser among a section of audiences, the first look teaser of Ramayana has received a positive response, with high praise towards Ranbir's look as Ram, along with the visuals and background score. Produced by Prime Focus Studios and Monster Mind Creations, Ramayana has music by AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer. The first part of the epic is scheduled to release on Diwali this year, and the second part will hit the big screens on Diwali 2027. Stay tuned...

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Ranveer Singh and Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar: The Revenge has created history at the North American box office by emerging as the highest-grossing Indian film in the region. The film collected around $22 million within just two weeks, surpassing the long-standing record of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which had grossed $20.80 million in North America and held the record for nearly nine years. Reacting to this achievement in an exclusive interview with Variety, actor-producer Rana Daggubati, who played the iconic Bhallaladeva in the Baahubali franchise, called the achievement a positive sign for the global growth of Indian cinema. He stated that even though it took nearly a decade for another Indian film to break the record, the milestone is still very significant and shows that Indian cinema is slowly expanding its international reach. According to him, Indian cinema is still just touching the tip of the iceberg when it comes to global box office potential. Rana Daggubati also spoke about how Indian stories are increasingly resonating with global audiences because of their emotional depth and human connect rather than just scale. He explained that many local stories from India are now performing strongly in international markets because audiences across the world connect with human emotions and universal themes, even if the stories are rooted in specific cultures. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) He further emphasized that while large spectacle films like Baahubali and Dhurandhar will continue to grow internationally, smaller and more personal stories also have huge potential globally if told in the right cinematic language. He pointed out that industries like Korean cinema managed to grow worldwide by telling very local stories in a way that connected with global audiences, and Indian filmmakers are now moving in a similar direction. Yesterday I watched #Dhurandhar2‌TheRevenge and needless to say I loved it and thoroughly enjoyed the film! Happy to see it breaking all the records and setting new box office benchmarks in India and worldwide! Congratulations to the entire team! 👏🏼👏🏼 https://t.co/ATl3o3bNTu— Shobu Yarlagadda (@Shobu_) March 28, 2026 Overall, his comments suggest that the success of Dhurandhar: The Revenge in North America is not just a box office record but a sign that Indian cinema still has massive untapped potential in international markets, and the global expansion of Indian films may only be at the beginning stage.

BY SACNILK TEAM

Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana is already one of the most anticipated Indian films, but one of the biggest highlights of the project is the involvement of legendary music composer A.R. Rahman, who is reportedly being paid around ₹30 crore along with a profit-sharing deal to compose the music for the film. This makes him one of the highest-paid music composers in Indian cinema history and shows the scale and importance of music in this epic mythological project. Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman, making it one of the biggest multi-star Indian films currently in production. The film is being directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, with the project planned as a two-part epic saga with a combined runtime of around six hours.The makers are reportedly investing heavily in music, background score, and sound design because Ramayana is a mythological epic where music plays a crucial role in storytelling, emotions, and scale. With A.R. Rahman composing the soundtrack, expectations are extremely high as his music is expected to be one of the major highlights of the film. The film is also being backed by Prime Focus Studios and DNEG, the Oscar-winning VFX company, which indicates that Ramayana will be mounted on a massive scale with world-class visual effects and production design. The project is expected to be one of the most expensive Indian films ever made and is being designed for a global audience.With a massive star cast, two-part storytelling format, six-hour total runtime, Oscar-winning VFX team, and A.R. Rahman's music, Ramayana is shaping up to be one of the biggest cinematic projects ever attempted in Indian cinema, and the music alone is expected to play a huge role in the film’s overall impact and success. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Another major highlight of Ramayana is the collaboration between A.R. Rahman and Hollywood legend Hans Zimmer, making this one of the biggest music collaborations ever for an Indian film. Hans Zimmer is a two-time Academy Award winner for Best Original Score for The Lion King (1994) and Dune: Part One (2021). He received his first Oscar for The Lion King and his second 27 years later for Dune, which shows his longevity and influence in global cinema. Hans Zimmer is widely regarded as one of the greatest film composers of all time and has composed music for some of the biggest films in Hollywood including Gladiator, The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Interstellar, and Pirates of the Caribbean. His background scores are known for their large orchestral sound, emotional depth, and powerful themes, which makes his involvement in Ramayana extremely significant for the film’s scale and global appeal. With A.R. Rahman handling the songs and Indian musical elements and Hans Zimmer contributing to the background score and orchestral themes, Ramayana's music is expected to be mounted on an international level. The makers are reportedly planning a grand musical experience with large orchestras, devotional themes, and cinematic background score to match the epic scale of the story. Ranbir Kapoor has also confirmed that Ramayana will be released in two parts with a total runtime of around six hours, which clearly shows that the makers are planning a very detailed and expansive retelling of the Ramayana story rather than compressing it into a single film. This two-part format will allow the story, characters, and world-building to be explored on a much larger scale. Overall, with a massive star cast, two-part storytelling, six-hour runtime, Oscar-winning music composers, and world-class VFX studios working on the film, Ramayana is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious and expensive film projects ever made in Indian cinema and is being designed not just as an Indian film but as a global cinematic event.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Dhurandhar 2 Overseas Box Office Collection Without Gulf vs Pathaan, Jawan, Baahubali 2 Comparison The overseas box office race among Indian films looks very different depending on one key factor — the Gulf market. While films like Pathaan, Jawan, and Baahubali 2 benefited heavily from strong Middle East performance, the Dhurandhar franchise tells a completely different story.Both Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar 2 achieved their overseas numbers without any Gulf release, making their global performance even more remarkable. In fact, when Gulf collections are excluded, Dhurandhar 2 emerges as the clear leader among all Indian films.This creates one of the most fascinating comparisons in recent box office history — films boosted by Gulf markets versus films that succeeded entirely without it. Top Overseas Grossers Excluding Gulf MOVIE NAME OVERSEAS WITHOUT GULF Dhurandhar 2 $40M+ Baahubali 2 $36.65M Pathaan $35.10M Dhurandhar $32.60M Jawan $30.30M The first major takeaway is clear — Dhurandhar 2 leads the overseas market when Gulf is excluded, beating even global giants like Baahubali 2 and Pathaan. This is extremely rare, as most top Indian grossers rely heavily on Gulf territories.Dhurandhar also ranks above Jawan in the non-Gulf list, reinforcing how strong the franchise is purely on the strength of other international markets like North America, UK, and Australia.However, the moment Gulf collections are added, the entire ranking shifts dramatically. Top Overseas Grossers Including Gulf MOVIE NAME OVERSEAS WITH GULF Pathaan $49.30M (₹397.50 Cr) Jawan $48.00M (₹400.00 Cr) Baahubali 2 $46.98M (₹371.16 Cr) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) With Gulf included, Pathaan jumps from #3 to #1, while Jawan rises from #5 to #2 — a massive shift purely driven by Middle East collections.Baahubali 2 also strengthens its position significantly, showing how even historically strong global performers benefit from Gulf markets.This highlights a crucial point: films with Gulf releases get a major boost that can completely alter global rankings. Gulf Contribution Comparison MOVIE NAME WITHOUT GULF WITH GULF GULF CONTRIBUTION Pathaan $35.10M $49.30M $14.20M Jawan $30.30M $48.00M $17.70M Baahubali 2 $36.65M $46.98M $10.33M Dhurandhar $32.60M Same (No Gulf Release) $0 Dhurandhar 2 $40M+ Same (No Gulf Release) $0 The numbers reveal the real story. Jawan gained the highest boost from the Gulf region with an additional $17.70M, followed by Pathaan with $14.20M, and Baahubali 2 with $10.33M .In contrast, both Dhurandhar films earned zero from the Gulf, yet still competed with — and even outperformed — films that had massive Middle East support.But the real essence of this story goes beyond just Gulf vs non-Gulf collections. It lies in how Dhurandhar 2 has built its overseas dominance across multiple international markets, especially in North America, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has already created history. As of around Day 10 of its release, the film has emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film of all time in North America, breaking the long-standing 9-year record held by Baahubali 2. The film crossed the previous benchmark and now stands at the top position in the North America market, which is considered one of the most premium overseas territories for Indian cinema.In the USA specifically, Baahubali 2 had held the all-time record with around $19.90M for many years. Dhurandhar 2 has already surpassed that mark and is now among the top grossers in the USA market, while continuing its strong run even after the second weekend. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) In Canada, Dhurandhar 2 has performed even more dominantly. As of around Day 14, the film had already collected approximately $8.90M, emerging as the highest-grossing Indian film of all time in Canada within just the first two weeks, making it one of the strongest performing Indian films ever in that market.The film has also delivered a historic performance in Australia, where as of around Day 12, Dhurandhar 2 had already grossed A$6.52M, placing it among the top-grossing Indian films of all time in Australia and establishing itself as a major blockbuster in the territory. In Europe, the film is also setting new benchmarks. In Germany, Dhurandhar 2 has already collected around €940K in 13 days and is set to become the first ever non-dubbed, non-locally co-produced Indian film to enter the prestigious €1M club, which is a significant milestone for an Indian film in the German market and highlights the film's expanding reach beyond traditional overseas strongholds. When we look at these territories together — USA, Canada, Australia, and Germany — it becomes clear that Dhurandhar 2's overseas performance is not dependent on a single region, but instead the film is performing strongly across multiple international markets simultaneously, which is one of the key reasons behind its massive overseas total even without a Gulf release. In that scenario, its overseas total would have increased substantially and by around Day 16 itself it could have been in the range of roughly $51M–$54M overseas, which would likely have pushed it past the current No.1 position and made it the highest overseas grosser among Indian films at this stage. What makes this even more significant is that the film is still early in its run, with several strong days ahead, meaning that by the end of its theatrical run, including a Gulf release, the lifetime overseas total could have potentially reached around $60M–$65M. This would have set an entirely new benchmark — much like how Baahubali 2 once established records that stood unchallenged for nearly a decade. This shows that it is not just about Gulf vs Non-Gulf collections, but about how overseas box office dynamics are evolving, and how films like Dhurandhar 2 are not just competing, but potentially redefining and setting new global benchmarks for Indian cinema.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, April 4 - Director Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is on the verge of creating history at the global box office, as it gears up to become the highest-grossing Indian film worldwide without contributions from the Gulf and China markets. The Gulf is a particularly big market for Indian films. But in the case of Dhurandhar 2, a lot of money was left on the table due to the ban on the film in this region. China, on the other hand, though it can be hugely lucrative, is not a traditional market, as very few Indian films are released there due to various reasons. If leaving out these two markets, the Ranveer Singh starrer is now within touching distance of Baahubali 2 and Pushpa 2 to become the highest-grossing Indian film at the worldwide box office. For context, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion grossed around 170 crores from these two regions during its full run, while Pushpa 2 earned around 50-60 crores in the Gulf, and it wasn't released in China. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Worldwide Box Office Numbers (Without Gulf & China) Baahubali 2: The Conclusion – 1615+ crore Pushpa 2: The Rule – 1685+ crore Dhurandhar 2 – 1525 crore (16 days and running) Dhurandhar 2 has already earned around 375 crores at the overseas box office (16 days) without a single penny from Gulf and China, and in an astonishing fact, the spy actioner has already outgrossed the entire international run of both Baahubali 2 and Pushpa 2, even including their all territory collection. With its phenomenal momentum still intact, Dhurandhar 2 is now poised to surpass both Pushpa 2 and Baahubali 2 in the coming days, thereby emerging as the biggest Indian grosser globally in markets excluding the Gulf and China. It is to be noted that Dangal is the biggest Indian grosser worldwide with 2070 crores, but it included over 1300 crores gross collection from China alone. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) What Makes Dhurandhar 2's Run Special? Zero Contribution From Key Markets Unlike Baahubali 2 and Pushpa 2, Dhurandhar 2 has achieved its numbers without the Gulf and China markets that can heavily boost worldwide totals. Strong Core Overseas Markets The film is performing exceptionally well in traditional strongholds like North America, the UK, and other international territories. Pure Demand-Driven Success The numbers reflect genuine audience pull rather than expanded market reach. Momentum Still Intact With 1525+ crore already collected, the film is just ~150 crore away from surpassing Pushpa 2's benchmark. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Top Indian Grossers Worldwide (Without Gulf & China) S. No. Movie Total Worldwide Gross WW Gross (Excl. Gulf & China) 1 Pushpa 2 ₹ 1742 Cr ₹ 1685+ Cr 2 Baahubali 2 ₹ 1788 Cr ₹ 1615+ Cr 3 Dhurandhar 2 ₹ 1525+ Cr ₹ 1525+ Cr As of April 3, 2026. Dhurandhar's performance underlines its massive acceptance across core international markets and showcases its strength purely based on demand rather than extended territorial advantage. As the film's box office journey continues, it is a matter of time before it becomes the biggest Indian grosser worldwide in like-for-like markets.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, April 4 - Following the historic success of Dhurandhar films, director Aditya Dhar is carefully planning his next cinematic venture, with multiple ambitious projects currently under consideration. The filmmaker, who has firmly established himself as one of Bollywood's most bankable storytellers, is expected to take a short break before locking his next film. Among the top contenders for being his next directorial venture is the long-awaited revival of The Immortal Ashwatthama, a Mahabharata epic that was previously shelved. The project, which was earlier set to star Vicky Kaushal, has gained renewed momentum following Dhar's recent box-office triumph, with reports suggesting it could finally go on the floors with a reworked scale and vision. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Another strong possibility is a grand historical film based on Chandragupta Maurya, which may reunite Dhar with Ranveer Singh. The duo have discussed this film previously and will sit down again in the coming weeks to chalk out their next plans. Given the massive success of their previous collaboration, this project is being envisioned as a large-scale period spectacle aimed at both domestic and global audiences. Interestingly, the URI director is also exploring an entirely different genre with an untitled sports drama. If finalised, this film would mark a significant shift from his signature action-heavy narratives. While no official announcement has been made yet, industry buzz suggests that Dhar's next project will be one of these aforementioned films and will be mounted on a massive scale, continuing his streak of high-concept entertainers. Stay tuned...