No Clash Means More Cash For Both ‘Dhurandar 2’ and ‘Toxic’, Say Trade Experts

Early today, Yash announced that his most anticipated action thriller, “Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups,” will not release on March 19 as scheduled because of the prevailing war-like situation in the Middle East. The Geetu Mohandas directorial will now release in theatres nearly two and a half months later, on June 4, 2026.

While the sudden postponement has disappointed Yash’s fans who’ve been waiting for his new film for the last four years, the move has brought a sigh of relief across the exhibitor and distributor community as the mega clash between “Toxic” and Ranveer Singh and Aditya Dhar’s most-awaited “Dhurandhar 2” has officially been averted. Industry experts believe that the decision will ultimately strengthen theatrical business, as both films will now be able to perform to their full potential. This seemed unlikely amid the box office clash and screen-sharing complications.

“I think everyone’s quite happy about it, because a simultaneous release of these two films would have dented each by ₹70 to ₹100 crore in net box office revenue,” says Akkshay Rathie, an exhibitor and director of Aashirwad Theatres Pvt Ltd. “Toxic would have created that opportunity cost loss for Dhurandhar and vice versa. For the exhibition sector, especially single screens and standalone properties, choosing between the two would have been extremely difficult, particularly given the scale and length of both films. Now, we’ll be able to optimally monetize both films to the hilt. And that will benefit not just the exhibition sector, but also the respective studios and the producers of the films. So I think it’s a very pragmatic decision, and it’s a decision that will benefit both films significantly.

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No more arm-twisting for screens

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh echoes the sentiment, noting that exhibitors and distributors can now focus on the programming of “Dhurandhar 2” and, later on, “Toxic.” “They would have had a very tough time getting the right screens and shows. Now that has been taken off because the clash is averted,” he shares, adding that averting the clash has also eliminated the potential negativity both films would have faced from rival fans on social media.

Since the clash was confirmed, the major concern within the trade had been the showcasing logistics. Both films are massive-scale actioners and cater to the same strata of audiences. The makers of both films were asking for an equal number of screens, which seemed unrealistic, especially in the Hindi belts where “Dhurandhar 2” enjoys an edge over “Toxic” among audiences. Allocating more screens to one film would inevitably have caused friction with the other camp, creating an uncomfortable situation across markets.

“We were already facing showcasing problems,” adds Raj Bansal, a multiplex owner and film distributor from Jaipur. “Dhurandhar 2 was facing screen constraints in the South, while Toxic was struggling to secure enough showcasing in North India. Dhurandhar has become a landmark film in the history of Hindi cinema. While Toxic would have performed strongly down South, Dhurandhar 2 was sure to dominate the northern belt. A clash could have reduced each film’s business by 20–25%. Shifting the date and releasing solo will only add to their revenue potential.

Domination is guaranteed 

With “Toxic” out of the March calendar, “Dhurandhar: The Revenge” is now expected to occupy at least 90% of the screens in India, giving it a massive opening across the nation. Although the long-term business will largely depend on the film’s content and word of mouth, the opening day is guaranteed to be bumper, or even historic.

“Toxic,” which will now release on June 4, will also benefit from the solo release, maximizing its box office potential across languages. According to trade estimates, each film is capable of doing business in the range of ₹600-₹700 crore in the Hindi market alone. This would probably have been difficult had they split screens over the same weekend.

“Whatever the reason behind Toxic’s postponement, it has brought relief and optimism to the exhibition and distribution sector,” concludes a producer on the condition of anonymity. “Both films deserve a solo release because both are mega-budget movies that are expected to earn massive numbers at the box office. When they release without competition, they earn more money. And more money is always good for the industry."