Dhurandhar Box Office Breakthrough: How Dhruv Rathee’s Criticism Fuelled a ₹877 Crore Run

The Ranveer Singh-starrer spy thriller Dhurandhar has emerged as one of the biggest blockbusters of 2025, but its journey to box office supremacy took an unexpected turn when YouTuber Dhruv Rathee’s criticism inadvertently became free publicity for the film. As of December 23, 2025, the film has collected a staggering ₹877.54 crores worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 and the 11th highest-grossing Indian film of all time.

The Numbers That Tell The Story

Released on December 5, 2025, Dhurandhar opened with an impressive ₹28.60 crores on Day 1 and has maintained a remarkable momentum throughout its theatrical run. The film’s domestic collection stands at ₹579.20 crores net (₹689.52 crores gross), while the overseas market contributed ₹188.02 crores, demonstrating the film’s universal appeal.

What makes these numbers even more remarkable is the film’s performance trajectory. The movie achieved the milestone of ₹500 crores net in India in just 16 days, making it the second-fastest Bollywood film to reach this mark. By its third weekend, Dhurandhar had already surpassed ₹800 crores worldwide, with no signs of slowing down.

The opening weekend alone brought in ₹106.50 crores, and the first week concluded with a massive ₹218 crores collection. The film’s staying power was evident in its third weekend, where it recorded near ₹100 crores, showcasing sustained audience interest even in its third week of release.

The Dhruv Rathee Effect: When Criticism Becomes Promotion

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Dhurandhar‘s box office journey is the role played by popular YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee. In a twist that film marketers could never have planned, Rathee’s scathing criticism of the film became one of its biggest publicity drivers.

On December 20, 2025, Rathee posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), boldly claiming: “It takes 1 YouTube video to destroy a ₹300 crore propaganda film.” He released a nearly 30-minute video titled “Reality of Dhurandhar Film,” where he accused director Aditya Dhar of spreading propaganda and criticized the film’s violent content.

However, what Rathee didn’t anticipate was the audience’s reaction. Rather than deterring viewers, his criticism sparked curiosity and debate, leading to increased ticket sales. Social media was flooded with posts from people who decided to watch the film specifically because of Rathee’s video.

One Twitter user posted: “I was planning to watch Dhurandhar on OTT but after watching Dhruv Rathee’s video, I am going to watch it in theatres today no matter the price.” This sentiment was echoed by thousands of others, demonstrating the Streisand Effect in action – where attempting to hide or criticize something inadvertently increases public interest in it.

The irony reached peak levels when YouTube began running Dhurandhar advertisements on Rathee’s critical video itself. A social media user humorously noted: “Dhruv Rathee made a video attacking the Dhurandhar movie. And YouTube is running Dhurandhar’s ad on his video itself. Absolute cinema.”

Box Office Milestones and Records

Dhurandhar hasn’t just been successful; it has been record-breaking. Here are the key milestones the film has achieved:

Historic Achievements:

• First film of 2025 to enter the ₹500 crore net India club
• Highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 worldwide
• Sixth highest-grossing Hindi film of all time
• 13th film ever to cross ₹500 crores net in India
• First Indian film to feature thrice in the global Top 5 box office charts
• Ranveer Singh’s biggest career grosser, surpassing Padmaavat (₹585 crores)

The film’s performance in specific markets has been equally impressive. In North America, it became the third Ranveer Singh film to gross over $10 million (approximately ₹83 crores), with the overseas total standing at $20.90 million.

Day-wise Collection Breakdown

The film’s daily performance showcases its phenomenal consistency:

• Opening Day (Day 1): ₹28.60 crores
• Opening Weekend: ₹106.50 crores
• First Week: ₹218 crores
• Day 14: ₹23.25 crores (Thursday)
• Day 17 (Third Sunday): ₹38.50 crores
• Day 18 (Third Monday): ₹16.00 crores

Even on its 18th day, the film maintained a respectable 28.76% overall Hindi occupancy, with evening and night shows recording 36.66% and 33.24% occupancy respectively. This sustained interest well into the third week is a testament to positive word-of-mouth and repeat viewings.

The Controversy That Fueled Success

The controversy surrounding Dhurandhar began even before Dhruv Rathee’s video. In November 2025, immediately after the trailer release, Rathee had criticized director Aditya Dhar for the opening torture sequence, comparing it to extremist propaganda. He stated: “Aditya Dhar has truly crossed a limit of cheapness in Bollywood.”

However, social media users quickly pointed out Rathee’s earlier praise for Gangs of Wasseypur, a film known for its graphic violence. When questioned about this apparent inconsistency, Rathee admitted: “I was wrong; back then I didn’t understand the impact such films have on society.”

The debate intensified when actor Ranvir Shorey entered the conversation, defending the film and engaging in a public exchange with Rathee. This celebrity involvement only amplified the discussion, keeping Dhurandhar in the headlines continuously.

Film critics and audiences also joined the debate. Prominent Indian critic Anupama Chopra faced significant backlash for her critical review, which she later termed as harassment, ultimately deleting her review. Meanwhile, another critic, Sucharita Tyagi, raised concerns about the portrayal of human rights in the film.

Political and Cultural Impact

Dhurandhar has transcended being just a commercial success; it has become a cultural phenomenon and a subject of political discourse. The film, based loosely on Operation Lyari (a Pakistani government-led crackdown against gangs in Karachi), has been praised by some as realistic and criticized by others as propaganda.

Sadanand Dhume of The Wall Street Journal called it “the first major Bollywood movie to realistically portray the terrorist threat India faces.” Columnist Shobhaa De praised the film, saying she wouldn’t mind watching its three-and-a-half-hour runtime again.

However, the film has also been described as “a dog whistle” and “subtle pro-regime propaganda” by several critics. International coverage, including from Al Jazeera, highlighted how the film sparked a political storm in both India and Pakistan.

Interestingly, even actor Hrithik Roshan, while praising the film’s technical aspects, publicly stated that he did not agree with its political stance. This nuanced response from within Bollywood added another layer to the ongoing debate.

Cast Salaries and Production Value

The film’s impressive production values are reflected in the reported salaries of its star-studded cast:

• Ranveer Singh: ₹30-50 crores
• R. Madhavan: ₹9 crores
• Akshaye Khanna: ₹2.5 crores
• Sanjay Dutt: ₹2.5 crores
• Arjun Rampal: ₹1 crore
• Sara Arjun: ₹1 crore

Directed by Aditya Dhar (of Uri: The Surgical Strike fame) and produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the film boasts music by Shashwat Sachdev, cinematography by Vikash Nowlakha, and editing by Shivkumar V. Panicker.

Critical Reception and Audience Response

Despite the controversies, Dhurandhar has received largely positive reviews from mainstream critics and audiences. On IMDb, the film holds an impressive 8.6 rating, with users praising its intelligent writing, peak performances, and gritty action.

One IMDb reviewer wrote: “After such a long time, mainstream Bollywood finally has a movie which is truly cinema. It’s no simple task to construct a nearly 4-hour long movie without losing your audience, yet Dhurandhar manages to do exactly that.”

The film’s 214-minute runtime, while criticized by some, has been defended by many viewers who appreciate the immersive storytelling. Akshaye Khanna’s performance as Rehman Dakait has been particularly praised, with many calling it the scene-stealer of the film.

The International Dimension

Dhurandhar‘s impact has extended beyond Indian borders. The film’s portrayal of Pakistan, particularly Karachi’s Lyari neighborhood, has drawn criticism from Pakistani academics and filmmakers. Nida Kirmani, an associate professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences, told Al Jazeera: “The representation in the film is completely based on fantasy. It doesn’t look like Karachi. It does not represent the city accurately at all.”

The family of Chaudhry Aslam Khan, the Pakistani police officer on whom Sanjay Dutt’s character is based, has also objected to the portrayal. Similarly, the family of Indian Army officer Major Mohit Sharma filed a petition in Delhi High Court to stop the film’s release, claiming it exploited his life without consent. The makers have denied this, maintaining that the film is entirely fictional.

What’s Next: Dhurandhar Part 2

With the massive success of the first installment, a sequel titled Dhurandhar: Part 2 – Revenge has been announced and is scheduled to release on March 19, 2026. Given the first film’s performance, industry analysts predict that Part 2 could potentially cross the ₹1000 crore mark globally.

The announcement of the sequel even before the first part completes its theatrical run indicates the producers’ confidence in the franchise. Early reports suggest that the second installment will continue the story with even higher production values and more intense action sequences.

The Verdict: A Blockbuster Born From Controversy

As of December 23, 2025, Dhurandhar stands as an undeniable commercial triumph. The film’s journey from a highly anticipated release to a record-breaking blockbuster has been marked by controversies, debates, and unexpected publicity.

The Dhruv Rathee controversy, rather than damaging the film, exemplified the modern entertainment landscape where all publicity—whether positive or negative—can contribute to commercial success. The film’s ability to generate discourse on political, cultural, and artistic levels has only enhanced its visibility.

For Ranveer Singh, this is a career-defining success. After facing criticism for his recent film choices, Dhurandhar has firmly established him as one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars. For director Aditya Dhar, this follows the success of Uri: The Surgical Strike and positions him as one of the most commercially successful directors working today.

The film’s ₹877.54 crore worldwide collection, achieved in just 18 days, with more earnings expected, proves that in the age of social media, controversy and conversation can be as valuable as traditional marketing. Whether Dhurandhar is seen as a patriotic thriller or propaganda film, one thing is certain: it has captured the imagination of millions and sparked a national conversation about the role of cinema in society.

As the film continues its theatrical run with strong weekday collections and prepares for a potential push toward the ₹900 crore mark, it serves as a case study in how modern cinema can leverage both praise and criticism to achieve unprecedented commercial success.

Also read: Delhi AQI Hits 400+: Budget Air Quality Protection That Actually Works – ParsoTak.in