Source TOI
MUMBAI – The Indian box office is bracing for a seismic event as Ranveer Singh’s latest spy-actioner, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, prepares to hit theaters this Thursday, March 19, 2026. The film has triggered an unprecedented frenzy in advance bookings, leading exhibitors to schedule rare 24-hour screenings and post-midnight shows to meet the skyrocketing demand.
The most surprising ripple effect of this craze has been felt at the legendary Maratha Mandir cinema. For the first time in recent memory, the iconic 11:30 AM slot for Shah Rukh Khan’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ)—which has run continuously for over three decades—has been shifted to an earlier morning slot. The adjustment was deemed necessary to accommodate the massive nearly four-hour runtime of Dhurandhar 2 and the sheer volume of fans flocking to the venue.
Midnight Madness and 2 AM Shows
With over 1.5 million tickets already sold in advance, major multiplex chains and single screens in cities like Mumbai, Thane, and Ahmedabad are moving toward a 24×7 operational model.
Early Bird Screenings: Theatres like PVR Chakala and MovieMax have scheduled shows as early as 1:50 AM.
Runtime Challenges: Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film clocks in at 3 hours and 52 minutes. This extended length typically limits screens to only four shows a day, but the introduction of “night-to-dawn” slots is allowing exhibitors to maximize capacity.
Box Office Projections: Trade analysts predict an earth-shattering opening, with domestic Day 1 collections estimated between ₹80 crore and ₹90 crore.
A Historic Advance Booking
The sequel has already shattered records, crossing ₹125 crore in global pre-sales. This massive momentum was further fueled when the Yash-starrer Toxic moved its release date to June, giving Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller a clear, uncontested window during the festive weekend of Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, and Eid.
“The demand is unlike anything we’ve seen since the post-pandemic era,” said a Mumbai-based exhibitor. “Even for a four-hour film, people are willing to watch shows at 2:00 AM just to be among the first to see it.”
The film stars Ranveer Singh as the undercover agent Hamza Ali Mazari, alongside a powerhouse ensemble including Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. Paid previews are set to begin on the evening of Wednesday, March 18, before the full-scale worldwide release on Thursday.
