Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge already getting 'next Sholay' comparisons. Trade experts make bold box-office predictions for Aditya Dhar and Ranveer Singh's sequel

Several major festivals and the holiday season have passed, yet there have been no major Bollywood releases. As a result, audiences have not been visiting theatres regularly due to the lack of big Bollywood films. Now, all eyes are on one of the biggest releases of the year, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge. From office meetings to wedding dinner conversations, everyone seems to be talking about the film. With anticipation around Dhurandhar 2 reaching new heights with every new update, be it posters, teasers, or even the re-release of the first film, trade analysts believe the sequel could be the movie that ends Bollywood’s recent dry spell and brings audiences back to theatres in large numbers.

Ever since the trailer was unveiled a few days ago, advance bookings have already begun and the film is generating strong buzz. Industry insiders are predicting a historic run, starting from its paid preview shows. From comparisons with iconic blockbusters to predictions of record-breaking openings, the excitement surrounding the film is hard to ignore.

How will Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge perform at the box office?

When The Economic Times reached out to trade analyst Taran Adarsh to understand market expectations, he said the craze surrounding the film is unlike anything seen in recent years. According to him, the scale of excitement reminds him of some of the most iconic releases in Indian cinema.


Drawing comparisons with legendary films, he said the buzz reminds him of the frenzy around Sholay and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. "I remember when Sholay was released, I was just a 10-year-old kid, and the craze for that film was enormous. I am seeing a similar kind of excitement today. Of course, there was Baahubali 2 in between as well, which created massive hype. This film also seems to have that peak craze moment that those films enjoyed," he said.

Taran believes that Dhurandhar 2 could revive the box office. “Wait for the paid previews,” he said, adding that they could become the highest ever for a Hindi film. “It will bring back confidence within the industry.”

According to a report by Hindustan Times, Dhurandhar: The Revenge had sold more than 4.7 lakh tickets across India by the morning of March 13, 2026. With these early sales, the film has already collected around Rs 24 crore gross in the domestic market. The spy thriller is now expected to challenge the preview show record held by Pawan Kalyan’s film OG, which reportedly earned about Rs 25 crore from preview screenings.

Including overseas bookings and other early sales, Dhurandhar 2 is estimated to have minted close to Rs 60 crore through advance bookings, even before full-scale India pre-sales officially opened.

RGV's bold Dhurandhar 2 claim

Several personalities within the industry are rooting for the film’s success. Recently, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma took to X (formerly called Twitter), stated that Dhurandhar 2 could challenge the dominance of southern films if it crosses Rs 2,000 crore worldwide.

Responding to this claim, trade expert Akkshay Rathie offered a more balanced perspective. He said it may not necessarily be about challenging southern cinema’s dominance, stating that such narratives often emerge whenever a film performs exceptionally well or poorly. According to him, the Indian film industry has repeatedly seen phases where certain actors, production houses or regions are written off, only to make strong comebacks later.


He also pointed out that major films from Telugu cinema are expected next year, with stars like Prabhas, Allu Arjun, N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Mahesh Babu lining up big releases. According to him, the success of Indian cinema is not about one industry dominating another but rather about different film industries coexisting and thriving together.

He further said Dhurandhar 2 has the potential to become the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time, even surpassing the earnings of the first Dhurandhar film. Another advantage, he noted, is that the sequel is arriving just three and a half months after the first installment, which helps sustain audience excitement.

Starring Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi and Sanjay Dutt in key roles, the film is slated to hit the screen on March 19. According to Saclink.com, the first part Dhurandhar completed over 75 days in theatre and minted Rs 1354 crore worldwide.

What's next for Dhurandhar 2?

If the early buzz is anything to go by, Dhurandhar 2 could become one of the biggest Hindi releases in recent years. From industry veterans to trade analysts, the consensus seems clear: the film has the potential to break several records.

Whether it ultimately lives up to the towering expectations will only be known after its release. For now, however, the industry is watching closely, hoping the sequel becomes the blockbuster that brings the box office roaring back to life.