Even as Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge finally began rolling out in cinemas, the much-hyped release hit an unexpected roadblock. Several premiere shows across regions were either delayed or cancelled, leaving fans disappointed. Kannada and Malayalam versions, in particular, did not screen as planned on opening evening.Amid the chaos, director Aditya Dhar and the team issued an official statement addressing the situation.
‘We truly apologise’: Makers break silence on delays
Sharing a note on social media, the makers expressed regret over the disruptions while emphasising their emotional investment in the film.“To our dear Dhurandhar family, Dhurandhar is not just a film for us—it is something we have lived with, nurtured, and dreamed of sharing with each and every one of you, together, at the same moment, in every language,” the note read.It further clarified the revised screening schedule, “Most of our Hindi shows across India are running as scheduled from 5 pm onwards. All of our Tamil and Telugu shows will commence from 9 pm onwards. However, due to unforeseen technical difficulties, our Malayalam and Kannada shows will begin from tomorrow morning. If the dubbed version you have tickets for is not currently playing at your cinema, you will have an option for a refund or to watch the Hindi version with subtitles instead.”The team concluded by apologising, stating that the audience’s love means the world to them. We truly apologise for the inconvenience. Your love for this film means the world to us, and we cannot wait to share it with you,” reads the statement.
Premieres cancelled across South markets
Earlier in the day, there were widespread reports of theatres in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala not receiving the final content in time despite scheduled evening premieres.Multiple exhibitors, including Broadway Cinemas, KSPS Cinemas, Rakki Cinemas, and AGS Cinemas, confirmed cancellations of Tamil premiere shows and assured refunds. Some theatres also offered the Hindi version as an alternative.Ticketing platforms like BookMyShow subsequently removed several scheduled shows for Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam versions. Even Hindi premieres reportedly saw delays of around 40 minutes due to subtitling issues.
Strong advance booking takes a hit
Despite the hiccup, the film had registered massive pre-release traction. According to trade estimates, Dhurandhar 2 sold over 9 lakh tickets for its premiere shows across languages, grossing approximately Rs 42.71 crore.Regional contributions included over Rs 1 crore from Telugu markets, more than Rs 80 lakh from Tamil, and over Rs 8 lakh each from Kannada and Malayalam.With cancellations across key regions, the team is likely to face an estimated loss of over Rs 2.25 crore from premiere earnings alone.
Massive opening expected despite hurdles
Starring Ranveer Singh alongside Sara Arjun, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, and Rakesh Bedi, the Aditya Dhar directorial has been certified ‘A’ by the CBFC for its intense violent content. The film marks the return of its core cast along with several new additions.For the unversed, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge had recorded historic pre-sales and is eyeing a Rs 40 crore debut from premieres alone. The opening day collection, including previews, is expected to cross the Rs 100 crore nett mark at the Indian box office—making it one of the biggest openers in recent times.
