Dhurandhar Surpasses ₹1000 Cr Globally, Faces Gulf Ban Challenges

Post by : Mina Rahman

The latest blockbuster featuring Ranveer Singh, Dhurandhar, has achieved phenomenal success, surpassing ₹1000 crore at the global box office. Directed by Aditya Dhar, this spy thriller, which is a two-part saga, has been hailed as the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025. The storyline, set in Karachi’s Lyari area, showcases Singh as an Indian agent delving into a Pakistani criminal network. The film boasts a stellar cast, including Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun.

Despite its impressive success in India and various international markets, Dhurandhar faced a ban in several Middle Eastern nations such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. This restriction has resulted in a substantial loss estimated at around ₹90 crore (approximately $10 million) in overseas revenue.

Pranab Kapadia, the film's overseas distributor, noted that the Gulf region is crucial for Indian action films, given their history of strong performances there. He emphasized that this ban represented a significant financial blow, amounting to about $10 million. Kapadia explained that while every effort was made to secure a release in these markets, they had to adhere to the respective laws and regulations.

Nevertheless, Dhurandhar has managed to captivate audiences in other regions. The timing of its December release played a key role in helping mitigate some losses, as many fans from Gulf nations caught the film while vacationing abroad in Europe or the United States during the holiday festivities.

Kapadia stated, “Numerous fans from the Gulf region traveled overseas during the December holidays and were able to experience Dhurandhar. The coincidental timing of the release during the festive season certainly aided in reaching out to its audience, despite the ban.”

Dhurandhar has garnered acclaim for its riveting narrative and a powerful depiction of counterterrorism efforts as well as geopolitical dynamics. Despite mixed critiques, its splendid box office performance is a testament to its widespread attractiveness among viewers.