Picture this: Movie theaters transforming into vibrant, 24-hour hubs of excitement because one film has gripped audiences so fiercely they can't wait for daylight. That's the electrifying scene unfolding with Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar, a cinematic sensation that's flipping the script on traditional movie-going habits!
But here's where it gets controversial: In a bold move driven by overwhelming fan enthusiasm, cinemas in Mumbai and Pune have launched midnight and even later screenings starting this past weekend, injecting fresh energy into the film's box office performance well into its second week. For newcomers to the world of Bollywood blockbusters, this means theaters are staying open all night, turning a movie outing into an unforgettable, sleep-defying adventure.
The late-night screenings began on Saturday evening, with Pune cinemas kicking things off at 12:20 a.m., swiftly followed by Mumbai at 12:45 a.m. What began as a handful of trial runs quickly escalated into a full-blown phenomenon, as more slots were booked to meet the demand. By the end of the night, shows were rolling out at 12:50 a.m., 1:25 a.m., 2:10 a.m., 2:30 a.m., 3:00 a.m., 3:30 a.m., 3:35 a.m., 4:05 a.m., and even 4:10 a.m. And with Dhurandhar clocking in at a whopping three and a half hours, moviegoers are willingly embracing the marathon, transforming a simple film watch into a complete weekend night experience that keeps everyone buzzing until dawn.
This strategy is already paying dividends big time. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film has shattered records, boasting the highest earnings for a Hindi movie on its second Friday. The buzz isn't fading; on Saturday, which marked day nine since its release on December 5, 2025, Dhurandhar raked in an impressive Rs 53 crore in a single day, showcasing how powerful word-of-mouth recommendations—think friends raving about the plot—and the appeal of watching it multiple times (that's 'repeat value' in industry lingo) keep drawing crowds back.
On the financial front, Dhurandhar has delivered a stellar debut in its first nine days, amassing an estimated Rs 292.75 crore in net earnings within India. By day ten, it had soared past the Rs 300 crore mark domestically—a major milestone in Bollywood that signifies massive success, as these figures represent ticket sales after deductions for theater shares. This triumph is even more remarkable considering a potential hurdle: the film hasn't screened in any Gulf countries, which are typically key markets for Indian films overseas.
And this is the part most people miss: Trade expert Girish Wankhede downplays the Gulf gap as not a significant blow. 'It's not a huge setback that Dhurandhar skipped Gulf releases,' he explains. 'The movie pulled in about Rs 65 crore from international markets in just seven days, and the Gulf's slice would likely have been only around Rs 4 to Rs 5 crore. India's domestic box office remains the main revenue powerhouse, and with these extra night screenings ramping up, we're poised to hit the elite Rs 500 crore club before long,' he adds. For those new to box office talk, these numbers highlight how films earn money primarily from ticket sales; overseas markets can boost totals, but domestic demand often makes or breaks a blockbuster.
Featuring a star-studded ensemble including Ranveer Singh alongside Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and Rakesh Bedi, Dhurandhar is keeping theaters alive with activity around the clock and maintaining strong ticket sales. This is shaping up to be one of the year's standout box office triumphs, proving that when a film resonates deeply, audiences will go to extraordinary lengths to experience it.
But let's stir the pot a bit: Is prioritizing domestic markets over international ones like the Gulf a smart strategy for Bollywood, or does it limit a film's true global potential? And what about those all-night screenings—do they signal a new era of movie mania, or could they be exhausting for fans and theaters alike? I'd love to hear your take: Agree that Dhurandhar's success shows domestic demand trumps overseas worries? Disagree and think skipping Gulf countries is a missed opportunity? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—let's discuss!
