The Indian box office is currently witnessing a rare showdown between a month-old titan and a massive new release. Ranveer Singh’s spy-thriller Dhurandhar, which has been shattering records since its release in December, is now facing off against Prabhas’ horror-comedy The Raja Saab. While the new release is leading in total numbers, the veteran film is putting up a surprising fight in the Hindi market.
Dhurandhar’s incredible hold
Despite being in its sixth week, Dhurandhar has shown remarkable resilience. On Saturday, the film’s 37th day it managed to collect Rs 5.75 crore net in India. This jump from its Friday collection of Rs 3.5 crore shows that the film is still a top choice for Hindi-speaking audiences.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film has now reached a massive domestic total of Rs 799.50 crore, missing the historic Rs 800 crore milestone by a hair. Globally, the film has been a juggernaut, crossing the Rs 1,245 crore mark. Its steady occupancy rates, peaking at 37 per cent during afternoon shows on Saturday, prove that Ranveer Singh’s portrayal of undercover spy Hamza Ali Mazari continues to draw crowds long after most films leave theaters.
The Raja Saab’s box office collection day 2
On the other side of the ring, Prabhas’ The Raja Saab had a more turbulent second day. After a strong opening on January 9 with Rs 63.3 crore (including previews), the film witnessed a sharp 48 per cent drop on Saturday. It earned Rs 27.83 crore net across all languages, bringing its two-day India total to Rs 90.73 crore.
While the film is performing exceptionally well in Telugu-speaking regions, its Hindi version has had a slower start. On Saturday, the Hindi dubbed version of The Raja Saab brought in Rs 5.2 crore.
How much Dhurandhar earned on Day 2?
When looking specifically at the Hindi audience, an interesting trend emerges. Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar actually out-earned the Hindi version of The Raja Saab on Saturday. By collecting Rs 5.75 crore against the new film’s Rs 5.2 crore. While The Raja Saab had a better opening than Dhurandhar, on Day 2, Ranveer Singh’s film earned more than The Raja Saab that crashed badly. Dhurandhar earned roughly 10.6 per cent more than the Prabhas-starrer on its day 2.
Industry experts suggest that while Prabhas remains the “King of Openings,” the mixed reviews and polarized word-of-mouth regarding The Raja Saab’s runtime and VFX are affecting its momentum. Meanwhile, Dhurandhar is benefiting from being a “must-watch” blockbuster that has integrated into pop culture over the last month.
Looking ahead
The Raja Saab is currently standing at a worldwide gross of Rs 138.4 crore. With a massive budget of Rs 400 crore, the film needs a huge Sunday and a strong hold during the upcoming week to stay on track. For Dhurandhar, the goal is even simpler: crossing the Rs 800 crore domestic mark today to cement its place as one of the most successful Hindi films of all time.