Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar is already rewriting box-office history, but there’s one major “what if” hanging over its record-breaking run. Despite storming past the ₹1,000 crore mark worldwide, the Ranveer Singh-led action thriller never released in several Middle Eastern territories — a move that reportedly cost the film a massive chunk of potential earnings.
Trade estimates now suggest that Dhurandhar may have lost close to ₹90 crore simply by staying out of key Gulf markets.
A blockbuster run — with a big gap
Dhurandhar has performed strongly across domestic and international circuits, quickly establishing itself as one of the biggest Hindi releases of recent times. However, the film’s absence from multiple Middle Eastern countries has stood out, especially given how consistently action films tend to thrive in that region.
According to overseas trade tracking, the missed Gulf release alone accounts for nearly $10 million (around ₹90 crore) in unrealised box-office revenue.
Why Dhurandhar didn’t release in the Gulf
The reason behind the non-release, according to industry insiders, was the film’s political undertones, particularly its anti-Pakistan messaging. While this didn’t affect its release in most global territories, it became a roadblock in parts of the Middle East where content regulations are stricter.
Overseas distributor Pranab Kapadia has acknowledged that while the decision hurt financially, it was unavoidable. He noted that action films usually perform exceptionally well in the Gulf, making the missed opportunity all the more significant.
Not the first film to face this roadblock
Interestingly, Dhurandhar isn’t alone. Kapadia pointed out that several big-ticket Hindi films in the past — including Fighter — also failed to secure releases in Gulf countries due to similar concerns. In that sense, Dhurandhar follows a familiar pattern rather than an isolated case.
Still, insiders believe that had the film opened in the Middle East, its worldwide totals would already be well beyond current milestones.
Holiday travel helped soften the impact
There was, however, a small silver lining. The film released during the December holiday window, when international travel peaks. Many Gulf-based moviegoers who couldn’t watch Dhurandhar locally reportedly caught the film while travelling to Europe or the US during the festive break.
Kapadia shared that several viewers deliberately planned theatre visits overseas, ensuring they didn’t miss the big-screen experience — a factor that helped partially offset the loss, even if it couldn’t fully replace a proper Gulf release.
Still racing ahead globally
Despite the setback, Dhurandhar hasn’t slowed down. The film has continued to draw audiences worldwide and has already crossed ₹1,100 crore globally, cementing its place among the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time.
Trade circles agree that the Middle East ban didn’t derail the film’s success — it merely limited how high the final number could climb.
Final words
Dhurandhar’s box-office journey is a reminder that even historic blockbusters come with missed opportunities. Losing out on nearly ₹90 crore from the Middle East may sting, but the film’s global dominance remains unquestionable. Had it released in the Gulf, the record books might already look very different.
