The box office equation for March has suddenly shifted — and Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller Dhurandhar 2 appears to be the biggest beneficiary. With Yash’s much-anticipated action drama Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups moving its release to June, the Aditya Dhar directorial is now heading for a solo theatrical run on March 19, giving the film a major advantage even before its release.
The impact is already visible overseas. Early ticket sales in North America have picked up pace, signaling strong excitement among international audiences.
Strong Start in North America Pre-Sales
According to early trade reports shared by Sacnilk, Dhurandhar 2 has already crossed $100,000 in advance sales in North America nearly two weeks before its theatrical debut. Out of this total, around $70,000 has come from premiere screenings scheduled for March 18.
What makes the numbers even more impressive is that advance bookings have not yet opened in all locations. As more theatres join the booking window in the coming days, the film’s overseas collections are expected to rise quickly.
Trade observers believe the film could challenge the record for the biggest Indian premiere in the United States. Currently, that benchmark belongs to Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal, which earned approximately $1.2 million from preview shows in 2023. If the current momentum continues, Dhurandhar 2 could move close to — or even surpass — that milestone.
Toxic’s Delay Changes the Box Office Game
Originally, March 19 was expected to host one of the biggest clashes in recent Bollywood history.
Fans had even given the potential face-off a nickname — “Dhuroxic” — referring to the simultaneous release of Dhurandhar 2 and Yash’s Toxic. However, the situation changed earlier this week when the makers of Toxic confirmed the film would now arrive in theatres on June 4, 2026.
In an official statement, Yash explained that the decision was taken because of ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which could affect the film’s global rollout.
The postponement has effectively cleared the path for Dhurandhar 2, leaving the spy thriller as the only major Hindi release in March. For distributors and exhibitors, that translates to wider screens, stronger occupancy, and potentially bigger opening numbers.
A Sequel to One of Bollywood’s Biggest Hits
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar 2 continues the story of Hamza, also known as Jaskirat, played by Ranveer Singh. The sequel follows the events of the first film, which became a global box-office phenomenon.
Released in 2025, the original Dhurandhar collected around ₹1300 crore worldwide, making it one of the biggest Hindi film successes of all time. The movie also achieved a rare milestone overseas — it reportedly surpassed Baahubali 2’s North American earnings, eventually grossing over $20 million in the US and Canada.
The sequel reunites several familiar faces from the first film, including:
- R Madhavan
- Arjun Rampal
- Sanjay Dutt
The film will also feature Akshaye Khanna in a special cameo appearance, adding another layer of intrigue to the spy thriller.
Box Office Expectations Already Sky-High
With the competition out of the way, industry analysts are predicting a massive opening weekend for Dhurandhar 2. Early projections suggest the film could collect ₹150–₹200 crore globally in its first weekend, depending on overseas performance and domestic footfall.
If that happens, the film could quickly establish itself as one of the biggest Bollywood openings in recent years.
Final Words
The delay of Toxic may have disappointed Yash fans, but it has unexpectedly given Dhurandhar 2 a powerful launch window. With strong overseas pre-sales, the momentum of a blockbuster predecessor, and Ranveer Singh returning in a high-octane role, the spy thriller is already building serious anticipation.
Whether it can recreate — or surpass — the historic success of its predecessor will become clear soon, but one thing is certain: March 19 now belongs entirely to Dhurandhar 2.
