Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge Overtakes Baahubali 2 to Become Second-Highest-Grossing Indian Film Ever

Key facts

• Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge grossed Rs 1,788.36 crore worldwide as of its 46th day.
• The film earned Rs 1,362.61 crore gross in India and Rs 425.75 crore overseas.
• It surpassed Baahubali 2 to become the second-highest-grossing Indian film ever.
• In April 2026, Dhurandhar 2 earned Rs 251.08 crore net in India, outperforming Bhooth Bangla's Rs 143.91 crore net.
• Bhooth Bangla, released on April 17, collected Rs 225.52 crore worldwide by its third weekend.
• Dhurandhar 2's week-wise India net collections: Week 1 Rs 674.17 crore, Week 2 Rs 263.65 crore, Week 3 Rs 110.60 crore, Week 4 Rs 54.70 crore, Week 5 Rs 19.25 crore, Week 6 Rs 12.45 crore.
• On Day 46 (7th Sunday), Dhurandhar 2 earned Rs 1.25 crore net across 719 shows, with 39% occupancy in Hindi and 67% in Tamil.

A Historic Milestone at the Global Box Office

Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has rewritten box office history, overtaking Baahubali 2 to become the second-highest-grossing Indian film of all time. As of its 46th day in theaters, the spy thriller has amassed Rs 1,788.36 crore worldwide, with Rs 1,362.61 crore gross from India and Rs 425.75 crore from overseas markets. The film, directed by Aditya Dhar, was released on March 19 and has sustained an extraordinary run, driven by overwhelmingly positive word of mouth. The achievement places Dhurandhar 2 behind only the all-time leader, though it has already surpassed the lifetime gross of Baahubali 2, a record that had stood for years. The film's success is particularly notable given that it is part of a franchise—Dhurandhar—which has now delivered the only Hindi cinema franchise to have all installments achieve 'Highest Grossing of the Year' status.

April Box Office Dominance Amid Sparse Releases

April 2026 proved to be a lean month for Bollywood, with only two noteworthy releases: Bhooth Bangla and Ginny Wedss Sunny 2. Yet Dhurandhar 2, already in its second month of release, single-handedly drove the majority of ticket sales. Between April 1 and April 30, the film earned Rs 251.08 crore net in India, far outpacing Bhooth Bangla's Rs 143.91 crore net over the same period. The cumulative net collection for Bollywood in April stood at Rs 396.53 crore, with Dhurandhar 2 contributing the largest share. Bhooth Bangla, a horror-comedy reuniting Akshay Kumar and director Priyadarshan, opened on April 17 to mixed reviews but attracted family audiences. It earned Rs 84.40 crore in its first week and Rs 43.75 crore in its second, and by its third weekend had collected Rs 225.52 crore worldwide. In contrast, Ginny Wedss Sunny 2, released on April 24, was a disaster, earning only Rs 1.54 crore net before being pulled from theaters after a single week.

Week-by-Week Performance and Sustained Momentum

Dhurandhar 2's box office trajectory reveals a classic blockbuster pattern: a massive opening followed by steady holds. In its first week, the film collected Rs 674.17 crore net in India. Week 2 added Rs 263.65 crore, Week 3 Rs 110.60 crore, Week 4 Rs 54.70 crore, Week 5 Rs 19.25 crore, and Week 6 Rs 12.45 crore. By the seventh week, daily collections had moderated but remained respectable: Day 44 (Friday) Rs 1.05 crore, Day 45 (Saturday) Rs 2.40 crore, and Day 46 (Sunday) Rs 1.25 crore. The film's seventh Sunday saw an 8.7% increase from the previous day, with 719 shows across India. Hindi shows recorded 39% occupancy, while Tamil shows led with 67% occupancy from just 12 shows, indicating strong regional appeal. Telugu and Kannada versions also contributed modestly.

Bhooth Bangla's Steady Climb and Competitive Landscape

While Dhurandhar 2 continued its historic run, Bhooth Bangla demonstrated its own resilience. On its 17th day (third Sunday), the film earned Rs 5.50 crore net across 4,249 shows, a 26.4% jump from the previous day. Overall Hindi occupancy stood at 33.77%, with evening shows peaking at 48.08% occupancy. The film's India gross reached Rs 169.27 crore, with a net of Rs 142.50 crore; overseas added Rs 56.25 crore, bringing the worldwide total to Rs 225.52 crore. The two films coexisted in theaters, with Bhooth Bangla benefiting from its novelty and family-friendly genre, while Dhurandhar 2 continued to draw audiences through word-of-mouth and repeat viewings. The contrast in their release strategies—Dhurandhar 2 as a March tentpole, Bhooth Bangla as an April release—highlighted the uneven release calendar that has plagued Bollywood.

Implications for Bollywood's Franchise Economy

Dhurandhar 2's success underscores the growing importance of franchise filmmaking in Indian cinema. The film is the second installment in the Dhurandhar series, and its performance has set a new benchmark for spy thrillers in Bollywood. Director Aditya Dhar, known for his meticulous crafting of dialogue and action sequences, has been credited with creating viral moments such as the 'Darling Darling' exchange that resonated with audiences. The film's ability to sustain high occupancy in its seventh week—especially in Tamil markets—suggests that strong content can transcend language barriers. With the franchise now established as a reliable box office draw, producers are likely to fast-track future installments. Meanwhile, Bhooth Bangla's moderate success indicates that star power and genre familiarity still hold sway, but cannot match the momentum of a well-executed franchise.

What Comes Next: Record Challenges and Industry Outlook

Dhurandhar 2 is now within striking distance of the all-time Indian box office record, though it remains to be seen whether it can close the gap. The film's weekly collections have declined sharply—from Rs 674.17 crore in Week 1 to Rs 12.45 crore in Week 6—and with show counts dropping, the path to the top spot is steep. However, the film's overseas performance, particularly in markets with large Indian diaspora, continues to add to its tally. For Bollywood, the April drought has raised concerns about release planning. With only two major releases in a month, the industry's dependence on a few blockbusters is evident. The success of Dhurandhar 2 and Bhooth Bangla may encourage studios to space out releases more strategically, avoiding the congestion that often leads to underperformance. As May begins, all eyes are on whether any new releases can replicate the sustained success of these two films.

The bottom line

• Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is now the second-highest-grossing Indian film ever, with Rs 1,788.36 crore worldwide.
• The film earned Rs 251.08 crore net in India during April, accounting for the majority of Bollywood's monthly box office.
• Bhooth Bangla, despite mixed reviews, collected Rs 225.52 crore worldwide by its third weekend, driven by family audiences.
• Only two noteworthy Bollywood films released in April 2026, highlighting a lack of release planning.
• Dhurandhar 2's strong performance in Tamil and Telugu markets demonstrates cross-regional appeal for well-crafted content.
• The film's weekly collections have declined steadily, but it continues to draw audiences in its seventh week.