Dhurandhar The Revenge couldn’t beat Dangal, but trade says its Rs. 1800 crore run without Gulf and China is the bigger success story

Dhurandhar The Revenge has become a record-earner not just in India but also overseas. As of April 24, the Ranveer Singh-starrer has grossed Rs. 1824.94 crores worldwide, making it the second-highest Hindi grosser of all time, only behind Dangal (2016). Dangal earned USD 196 million (Rs. 1259 crores at the time) from China alone, contributing significantly to its total of Rs. 1968.03 crores. Despite Dhurandhar The Revenge achieving record-breaking numbers, it won’t surpass Dangal’s worldwide box office total. Trade experts highlight that Dhurandhar The Revenge’s Rs. 1800 crore run without Gulf and China markets is notable. Without these key markets, it is only Rs. 143 crores short of Dangal’s numbers, and by the film’s end, it may fall short by Rs. 100-110 crores. Experts speculate that if Dhurandhar The Revenge had been released in the UAE-GCC belt, it could have covered the difference and challenged Dangal’s record. Trade veteran Taran Adarsh argues that Dhurandhar The Revenge is a bigger success because it performed well without major overseas markets. Analysts like Atul Mohan note that Dangal’s overseas earnings were heavily influenced by China, with 85-90% of its business coming from that market. Suniel Wadhwa counters that the loss from the Gulf markets alone (Rs. 65-85 crores) would not have been enough to surpass Dangal, and the film’s lack of release in China remains a limitation. He also compares the growth of the two films, noting that while Dhurandhar The Revenge’s overseas earnings (45 million USD) have grown from Dhurandhar Part 1’s 28 million USD, its performance in India has not been as strong. Girish Johar emphasizes that Dangal’s success in China makes an apple-to-apple comparison difficult for Dhurandhar The Revenge, which has not earned in China. Taran Adarsh concludes that Dhurandhar The Revenge has set a new benchmark, with its impact on audiences being unparalleled. He believes future films will be measured against its performance, highlighting its lasting influence on cinema.