Mar 07, 2026 7:35pm IST
Trade Talk: ‘People Booking Tickets of ‘Dhurandhar 2’ At Feverish Pace Indicates Bollywood is Not Dead’
This morning, the trailer of "Dhurandhar 2" was released on social media and in no time, it emerged as the top trend on all social media platforms. Right from scale and intensity to high-octane stunts and breathtaking action sequences, the trailer spy-actioner ticked every element and raised the anticipation for the movie to another level.
With the trailer, the makers announced the booking of paid previews (March 18) on the internet and in no time, several screens across the country witnessed an excellent occupancy.
Variety India speaks with industry experts to discuss the hype and the craze among the audience for booking tickets of paid previews, which are being sold at an exorbitant price.
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Sharing that the expectation has only multi-folded after the trailer, Taran Adarsh says, “That's a great signal that people are ready to watch a film on the big screen. They are booking tickets at a very feverish pace, which indicates a couple of things. One, Bollywood is not dead. Bollywood came back with a bang last year, of course, with many other films, but also with ‘Dhurandhar’ coming in and doing unheard of business, smashing even ‘Pushpa’’s record, becoming the highest ever grossing Hindi film ever in India. And then, now, after a couple of months from December to now, March, the second part is coming. And I'm sure you've seen the advance booking craze for the film. I mean, it is the film that the tickets are selling faster than hot cakes. And I think that's all that matters. Because eventually, box office validation is the ultimate validation.”
Despite the high cost of tickets for paid previews, people are going all out to grab the seats and witness the spy-actioner on the big screen, one day before its release. “The highlight is that it's not the normal ₹200-₹300 ticket. These are exorbitant, super blockbuster rates that are selling like hot cakes. So, you can just imagine this will be breaking all records of paid previews sales, ever. From paid previews themselves, the record- breaking spree begins,” adds Adarsh.
The veteran analyst also says that if the audience wants to watch a film, they will watch it irrespective of the cost or any other factors. “If they want to watch a film, no matter examination period, no matter heavy rainfall, no matter IPL cricket matches, or no matter whatever, they will watch it,” concludes Taran.
Prominent trade tracker from the south, Ramesh Bala, also shares his thoughts about the insane response and says, “The paid previews of ‘Dhurandhar 2’ have opened to an outstanding response. The advance bookings clearly reflect the strong anticipation surrounding the film. The bookings are very strong all over India.”
“Dhurandhar 2” also stars R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi, among others. It is helmed by Aditya Dhar.
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