Aditya Dhar’s high-octane spy thriller Dhurandhar has rewritten the history books of Indian cinema. As of Thursday, December 25, 2025, the film has not only crossed the ₹700 crore mark but has officially surpassed ₹960 crore in worldwide gross collections.
The film’s relentless momentum has made it the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 and the highest-grossing “A” rated Indian film of all time, outperforming massive hits like Animal.
1. Box Office Breakdown: Domestic vs. International
Despite releasing only in Hindi, the film’s “organic tsunami” of popularity has allowed it to dominate across all regions.
- Domestic Performance: Dhurandhar has earned a staggering ₹762.14 crore (Gross) in India. On its 20th day (Wednesday), it collected ₹17.5 crore, showing incredible hold even during the weekdays.
- Overseas Collection: The film has raked in ₹197.91 crore ($23 million) internationally. This is particularly impressive given that the film faced bans in several Gulf countries due to its intense geopolitical themes.
- Worldwide Total: The total gross currently stands at ₹960.05 crore, placing it 9th on the list of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.
2. The Avatar 3 Face-Off
The most surprising aspect of Dhurandhar’s run is its resilience against James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash.
- Weekday Dominance: While Avatar 3 opened well in India (reaching ~₹95 crore in six days), it saw a sharp drop-off on weekdays. In contrast, Dhurandhar collected nearly double the daily figures of the Hollywood epic on its third Monday and Tuesday.
- Screen Count: Due to sustained “word-of-mouth” and repeat viewings, theater owners in North India have reportedly maintained higher screen counts for Dhurandhar over Avatar 3.
3. Critical Reception and Controversy
Dhurandhar has become a polarizing cultural phenomenon.
- The Plot: The 214-minute (3.5 hours) epic follows Hamza Ali Mazari (Ranveer Singh), an Indian agent sent to infiltrate a Baloch gang in Lyari, Pakistan.
- The Cast: Critics have unanimously praised the ensemble, particularly Akshaye Khanna as Rehman Dakait and Ranveer Singh’s intense lead performance.
- The Debate: The film sparked a political storm, with some creators like Dhruv Rathee labeling it “dangerous propaganda” for its portrayal of real-life geopolitical events, while director Aditya Dhar defended the film as an organic success driven by “love for the country.”
4. Future of the Franchise: Dhurandhar 2
Following the massive demand from South Indian markets, the makers have officially confirmed a sequel.
- Release Date: Dhurandhar 2 is locked for March 19, 2026 (Eid).
- Pan-India Move: Unlike the first part, the sequel will get a simultaneous release in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.
- The Clash: It is currently set to clash with the highly anticipated film Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups starring Yash.