Lights, camera, collections: PVR Inox strikes back with a 'Dhurandhar' performance

Multiplex operator PVR INOX reported revenue of Rs 1,642.3 crore for the April-June quarter, up 11.9% from Rs 1,468.2 crore a year earlier, in a period that featured one of the year's biggest theatrical successes, Ranveer Singh-starrer 'Dhurandhar.'

Revenue from the sale of movie tickets rose 15.9% to Rs 837.2 crore from Rs 722.6 crore a year ago, while food and beverage sales increased 16.7% to Rs 557.8 crore from Rs 477.9 crore.

A standout performer at the domestic box office

Among the top-performing films of the quarter, Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar emerged as the biggest title across PVR INOX properties. The action thriller grossed Rs 112 crore at PVR INOX cinemas out of its Rs 227 crore India gross box office collection (GBOC), making it the multiplex chain's highest-grossing release in Q1FY27.


The film outperformed the other top releases of the quarter at the chain. Bhoot Bangla collected Rs 79 crore at PVR INOX against an India GBOC of Rs 203 crore, while Cocktail 2 earned Rs 42 crore at PVR INOX with a nationwide gross of Rs 90 crore.

Beyond theatres: A cross-platform blockbuster

The film has since evolved into one of India's biggest entertainment franchises this year, extending its reach well beyond cinemas.

Following its theatrical run, Dhurandhar became JioHotstar's biggest digital launch, attracting 50 million viewers during its opening weekend. Around 60% of the watch time came from connected TVs, underscoring the growing preference for large-screen streaming experiences. The platform also released a "RAW & Undekha" version of the film, along with a 30-minute behind-the-scenes pre-show featuring the cast.

The momentum continued on television. Its world television premiere on Star Gold, Star Gold 2 and Colors Cineplex reached more than 5.3 crore viewers, making it the highest-reaching world television premiere in the past five years, according to JioStar citing BARC data. The broadcaster said the premiere's reach, achieved in roughly four hours, was 1.4 times the film's cumulative theatrical footfall during its three-month cinema run.

The event also attracted a strong lineup of advertisers, reflecting the confidence brands place in tentpole entertainment properties. Thums Up (Coca-Cola India) came on board as the co-presenting sponsor, while Sting (PepsiCo) and Wonder Cement were co-powered sponsors. Google Search joined as the special partner, with AMFI, Surf Excel (Hindustan Unilever), Cadbury Dairy Milk (Mondelez) and Blenders Pride Packaged Drinking Water (Pernod Ricard) signing up as associate sponsors.

Industry recovery broadens

PVR INOX said India's total box office collections grew 20% year-on-year during the quarter, with growth broad-based across metros as well as Tier II and Tier III markets, supported by a wider mix of successful films across languages rather than a handful of blockbuster releases.

The company added that the trend mirrors improving theatrical performance globally, with the North American box office running 14% ahead of last year at $4.8 billion during the first half of 2026, reinforcing the continued strength of the theatrical-first release model.