BY SACNILK

Advance booking trends for Ustaad Bhagat Singh, starring Pawan Kalyan, have begun to attract attention, as the film approaches its premiere. Early overseas ticket sales and initial domestic booking data are providing the first indicators of audience interest. With expectations naturally high around a Pawan Kalyan release, the film's early performance is already being measured against his previous major success, They Call Him OG, which emerged as one of the notable Telugu box office performers of 2025. According to data shared by trade tracker Venky Box Office, Ustaad Bhagat Singh has so far collected $234,504 in USA premiere advance sales. The numbers currently come from 411 locations, 1,070 shows, and 10,251 tickets sold. When including the wider North America market, premiere advance sales have reached approximately $255,000, with around two days remaining before the premiere screenings. As bookings continue to open in additional locations, these figures represent an early snapshot rather than the final advance booking position. Domestic ticketing activity has also begun to build gradually. With booking windows still limited across many regions, Ustaad Bhagat Singh reportedly sold around 14,690 tickets within 24 hours on BookMyShow as of March 15, suggesting a steady start in early pre-release demand. The early numbers inevitably invite comparison with They Call Him OG, which set a strong commercial benchmark for Pawan Kalyan in 2025. The film concluded its theatrical run with ₹230 crore India Gross, ₹189 crore India Net, and ₹65 crore from overseas markets, taking its worldwide gross to approximately ₹295 crore. The film was ultimately declared a Hit and went on to become Pawan Kalyan's career-best grosser at the time. North America played a particularly important role in the success of They Call Him OG. The film finished its run with $5.596 million (₹49.24 crore) in the region, including $5.319 million (₹46.80 crore) from the United States and $277,000 (₹2.44 crore) from Canada. In terms of language performance, the Telugu version accounted for $5.554 million, while the Hindi version contributed about $42,000. These numbers placed the film among the Top 8 highest-grossing Telugu films of all time in North America, with the Telugu version ranking Top 7 among Telugu-language releases in the territory. Ahead of its release, the film's theatrical business has been closed across territories. In the Telugu states, the total business stands at around ₹106 crore, including GST, with the Uttarandhra territory contributing significantly to the Andhra deals. Outside the Telugu states, the film has reportedly secured ₹8.5 crore in the Rest of India, while overseas rights are valued at approximately ₹12.5 crore. Combining all territories, the worldwide theatrical business stands at approximately ₹127 crore. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Against this backdrop, Ustaad Bhagat Singh is scheduled for release on March 19, carrying strong expectations at the box office. The film stars Pawan Kalyan in the lead and is directed by Harish Shankar. The songs are composed by Devi Sri Prasad, while S. Thaman has handled the background score. The cast also includes Sreeleela and Raashi Khanna in the female lead roles, with the project produced by Mythri Movie Makers. However, the box office landscape for Ustaad Bhagat Singh will also be shaped by the simultaneous release of Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, which is hitting theatres on the same date, March 19. The Ranveer Singh-led spy action sequel has generated massive pre-release buzz across India and overseas, with reports indicating over one million tickets sold in advance bookings and strong demand across multiplex chains. The film is also releasing in multiple languages, including Telugu, after the first part gained a notable following in the Telugu states and among younger audiences. Early booking trends indicate strong traction, with the Telugu 2D version alone reporting around ₹42.85 lakh in first-day advance bookings from about 32,550 tickets and approximately ₹92.16 lakh in premiere advance sales from about 49,385 tickets. These numbers suggest that the film has managed to attract considerable interest among Telugu audiences even before release. With both films arriving during the Ugadi–Eid holiday window and targeting overlapping multiplex screens, the competition for show capacity and audience attention could become a significant factor in determining the opening weekend trajectory. Whether Ustaad Bhagat Singh can match or surpass the benchmark set by They Call Him OG may ultimately depend not only on its own momentum but also on how strongly it holds its ground against the pan-India wave surrounding Dhurandhar 2.

BY SACNILK

The highly anticipated sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, is rewriting the rulebook of Indian cinema ahead of its global release on March 19, 2026. Directed as a mammoth 235-minute (3 hours and 55 minutes) saga, the film has seen unprecedented demand, leading exhibitors to schedule post-midnight and early-morning shows even before the first day of release. This marks the first time a Hindi film has secured such unconventional time slots this early, signaling a massive wave of audience interest. According to reports by Bollywood Hungama, theaters in major circuits like Mumbai, Pune, and Ahmedabad have already opened bookings for shows starting as early as 2:00 am on Thursday. In Mumbai, MovieMax Sion and MovieMax Wonder Mall in Thane are leading the charge with multiple screenings scheduled between 2:15 am and 5:30 am. The trend is mirroring in Pune and Ahmedabad, where several multiplexes have added round-the-clock screenings to manage the ticket frenzy. Exhibition sources suggest that more screens are expected to join this 24-hour screening model over the next 48 hours. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The sheer length of the film has also caused a historic shift at Mumbai's iconic Maratha Mandir. To accommodate the nearly four-hour runtime of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the legendary Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), which has occupied the 11:30 am slot for decades, will now be screened at 10:00 am starting March 18. This adjustment allows the theater to fit in three full shows of the sequel at 1:15 pm, 5:30 pm, and 9:45 pm. While similar shifts happened during the releases of Animal and Pushpa 2, moving the classic DDLJ show to 10:00 am is a rare occurrence for the historic single-screen. On the financial front, the film is witnessing a dominant performance in advance bookings. For the paid previews scheduled for March 18, the film has already recorded a gross of 38.50 Cr. For the official Day 1 (March 19), domestic advance sales have crossed 24.50 Cr, with more than 6.25 lakh tickets sold across 13,000+ shows in India. The global interest is equally strong, with overseas pre-sales estimated at approximately 60 Cr for the opening weekend. When combining the Indian premiere gross, the Day 1 advance sales, and the international bookings, the total global opening weekend pre-sales figure currently stands at a staggering 123+ Cr (including block seats). With two days still left for the official release, these numbers are expected to climb further as more midnight and early-morning slots are added across the country

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, March 16 - The much-anticipated spy action thriller Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, starring Ranveer Singh, is witnessing a phenomenal response in bookings ahead of its theatrical release. The film has sold over 10 lakh tickets domestically on its opening day, signalling massive excitement among audiences. The film's opening day pre-sales in India have crossed 50 crore gross (without block seats), which includes the collections from paid premiere shows scheduled a day before the official release. The premiere advance booking alone is over 33+ crore gross, already making it the biggest premiere performances ever in India. The pure opening day advance sales stand at around 16 crore gross with 3.60 lakh tickets sold (without block seats), while over 7.10 lakh tickets have been sold for the premiere across 23000+ combined shows. Despite a 4-hour-long runtime, Dhurandhar 2 will be having one of the biggest releases ever in the country. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The strong momentum in bookings has been building steadily since ticket sales opened, with major multiplex chains reporting rapid ticket sales and multiple shows filling up quickly. Globally, the film is generating huge buzz with strong advance sales in overseas territories, including North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge continues the high-octane spy saga that began with the first Dhurandhar film, which went on to become a major box office success. With massive pre-release hype, record-breaking ticket sales, and strong audience anticipation, the sequel is now targeting a historic opening day at the box office when it arrives in cinemas later this week. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, March 15 - The advance booking juggernaut of Ranveer Singh-fronted Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is intensifying ahead of the March 19. The spy action thriller, with three days still left for the first show to begin, has crossed 100 crores worldwide pre-sales for the opening weekend, becoming one of the very few Indian films to achieve the mark. Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar 2 has minted over 50 crores gross advance sales in India for the opening weekend, including over 30 crores gross for the premiere alone, and around 10 crores gross for the pure opening day (without block seat numbers) at the time of writing this piece. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Overseas, the sequel has minted around $5+ million (46+ crore gross) for the weekend in North America, including around $2.5 million for the opening day+premiere. The overall overseas sales are reportedly nearly 60 crores for the weekend, with worldwide pre-sales topping 110 crores gross. At this point, 150 crores worldwide advance sales are looking like a cakewalk for Dhurandhar 2, but it will be aiming to close near 200 crores gross, which will be a record for a Bollywood title, reflecting massive anticipation among Indian and international audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Dhurandhar 2 has already shattered multiple records with pre-sales only. It has scored the biggest premiere day in India, beating Pawan Kalyan's OG, while also becoming the first Indian film to score $5 million advance sales in North America, which is remarkable. With a couple of days left for the release, more records are expected to bite the dust. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, March 14 - The excitement surrounding Dhurandhar 2 continues to grow as the makers have officially opened full-fledged advance bookings across the country, having already grossed over 25 crores for paid premieres on March 18. The highly anticipated sequel, starring Ranveer Singh, is already generating tremendous buzz ahead of its release, with ticket sales continuing with solid momentum in India and overseas markets. Meanwhile, the first part of Dhurandhar, which was released in the first week of December last year and has been playing in theatres on limited screens, was expanded to over 1000+ screens this week ahead of the release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge. The film is still holding its ground at the box office even after a long theatrical run. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On its 99th day, the film managed to collect around 20 lakh, showcasing its remarkable staying power and sustained audience interest. Such late-run collections are rare for mainstream Indian films in today's time. With this, the total collection of the film now reached around 1006.50 crores gross in India and 1306 crores gross worldwide. The strong performance of the original film is further boosting the momentum for the sequel, which can already be seen in premiere sales. With bookings now fully underway, Dhurandhar 2 is expected to record massive pre-sales in the coming days, especially given the strong hype generated by its trailers, promotional campaigns, and the success of the first film. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) If the early trends continue, Dhurandhar 2 could be looking at one of the biggest openings for an Indian film ever. It is scheduled to release on March 19 in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Advance bookings for Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge are witnessing an exceptionally strong response across major Indian markets, with several exhibition circuits reportedly struggling to match the growing demand for tickets.As reported by Bollywood Hungama, trade trackers indicate that cities such as Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru are already seeing high occupancy levels days ahead of the film's premiere, prompting exhibitors to consider adding additional shows through the opening weekend. According to on-ground trade estimates, Mumbai has already sold close to 50 percent of its available tickets for the opening phase, while Hyderabad is nearing 75 percent pre-sales and Bengaluru has crossed around 60 percent occupancy in advance bookings. The surge in demand has reportedly led audiences to push exhibitors to open bookings for the rest of the weekend earlier than planned so they can secure seats in advance. Trade observers say the current trend reflects strong anticipation for the film, with the scale of demand drawing comparisons to the pre-release momentum witnessed by Baahubali 2: The Conclusion in 2017. While it remains early in the booking cycle, the pace of ticket sales across key metropolitan markets indicates that the film could open to one of the biggest box office starts for an Indian release in recent years. As per the latest data the film's All-India advance gross has already crossed ₹27.34 crore, with figures reportedly touching ₹32.09 crore when block bookings are included. Such early numbers suggest a strong nationwide opening if the trend sustains through the final days of booking. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   The scale of demand for Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has also been visible in Hyderabad. At the newly inaugurated Allu Cinemas, around 50 to 60 percent of the tickets for Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge have reportedly been blocked to meet demand from industry circles. Meanwhile, overseas demand is also building momentum. Box office tracker Venky Box Office reported that the film has crossed $1.07 million in U.S. premiere advance sales across 690 locations, 1,765 shows and over 67,000 tickets sold. The tracker estimates that North America premiere advances have already reached about $1.31 million, with projections suggesting opening-day advances of around $2 million and nearly $4.05 million through the first weekend if the trend continues. The advance bookings for the rest of the weekend are expected to open today, as paid preview shows are currently facing limited ticket availability in several markets. Trade observers will now closely track the pre-sales numbers the film records for its full-fledged opening day and the opening weekend as bookings expand from tomorrow.

BY SACNILK

The upcoming Hindi action thriller Dhurandhar: The Revenge, starring Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar, is witnessing strong advance booking trends across international markets ahead of its worldwide release. Early tracking indicates significant momentum in North America, where the film’s premiere advance sales in the United States have reached approximately $982,374 across 678 locations, covering 1,684 shows and around 61,491 tickets sold. When Canada is included, the total North America premiere advances have crossed $1.2 million, marking the highest premiere advance for a Hindi film, surpassing the earlier advance sales benchmark set by Animal. The film is also showing solid traction in India ahead of its premiere shows. Current nationwide advance bookings stand at approximately ₹25.32 crore, while estimates including block bookings suggest the figure could reach ₹30.18 crore. These early numbers indicate strong initial demand in the domestic market as the film heads toward its theatrical release window. The strong advance sales have also sparked discussion in trade circles about the film’s potential overseas opening weekend performance. The current benchmark for the biggest overseas opening weekend by an Indian film is held by Pathaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, which grossed around $26 million internationally during its opening weekend. With six days remaining before premiere shows and steady advance bookings across North America and other international markets, trade analysts believe Dhurandhar: The Revenge could challenge—and potentially surpass—the overseas opening weekend record set by Pathaan if current trends continue. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   Recent years have seen several Indian films register strong overseas openings. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion collected around $22.5 million in its opening weekend overseas and went on to become one of the highest-grossing Indian films internationally, eventually collecting ₹ 371.16 Cr in overseas. Jawan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, opened to approximately $21.5 million overseas and later became the highest-grossing Hindi film worldwide, finishing with more than ₹1,100 crore globally. Pushpa 2: The Rule recorded an overseas opening weekend of about $19.2 million, reflecting the massive international popularity of the franchise led by Allu Arjun. Leo debuted overseas with roughly $18.2 million, becoming one of the biggest international openings for a Tamil film and contributing to the film crossing ₹600 crore worldwide. Meanwhile, Kalki 2898 AD started with an overseas opening of around $17.9 million and went on to become one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2024, earning more than ₹1,000 crore globally. The performance of Dhurandhar: The Revenge over its opening weekend will determine whether it can join—or potentially surpass—this list of major international debuts for Indian cinema, including the current overseas opening weekend benchmark of about $26 million held by Pathaan.

BY SACNILK

In a feat unheard of in modern Indian cinema, the blockbuster spy thriller Dhurandhar is set to continue its theatrical run until the release of its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, making it the first time in history a prequel will run until its sequel's launch. The original film is set to complete its 100th day in theatres tomorrow, a rare milestone in the post-pandemic era and a testament to its enduring popularity despite being available on Netflix. To celebrate this, the first installment was re-released globally on March 13, 2026, across more than 1000 screens. The hype is evident on BookMyShow, where over 500,000 users have marked interest for the upcoming sequel. The film's popularity is also reflected on ticketing platforms, with Dhurandhar selling over 1.3 crore tickets on BookMyShow, making it the highest-selling Hindi film on the platform. The milestone underscores the film's extraordinary theatrical demand and sustained audience interest, especially remarkable in an era where many films shift quickly to streaming platforms despite the movie already being available on Netflix. The sequel, slated for a worldwide release on March 19, 2026, is already shattering box office records with its advance bookings for premiere shows on March 18, scheduled across more than 9000 shows. The film has amassed over ₹50 crore in worldwide advance sales, with a prediction of a historic opening day of ₹100 crore. In India alone, the premiere gross has already crossed ₹24.4 crore, surpassing previous records for paid previews held by other major films. This high demand is reflected in premium ticket prices, with some recliner seats reaching ₹3,100 in cities like Mumbai. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   The international response has been particularly phenomenal, especially in North America. The film has already grossed approximately $3.50 million, around ₹32.5 crore, in overseas pre-sales for its opening weekend. The United States is leading this charge with nearly $2.25 million in sales for the extended four-day weekend, with states like Texas and California showing very strong pre-sale figures. The total advance collection for the North American premiere has already climbed to an impressive $1.2 million, surpassing the previous record held by Animal.The film's premium theatrical experience is further solidified by its confirmed release in AMC Dolby Cinema (Dolby Vision) across the USA. This makes Dhurandhar: The Revenge only the third Indian feature film to receive a Dolby release in the United States, following in the footsteps of RRR and Pushpa 2: The Rule In Canada, the film is witnessing an unprecedented surge with weekend pre-sales having already crossed the 900K mark and heading toward 1M shortly. This represents the biggest trend ever recorded for an Indian title in the region. A $10M opening weekend at the North American box office is now locked, making it the first Bollywood film and only the third Indian title—following Baahubali 2 and Kalki 2898 AD—to cross this milestone. Beyond North America, other territories in Europe, Asia, and Oceania have added nearly $1 million in advance bookings, placing Dhurandhar: The Revenge on path to become a historic global blockbuster.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, March 12 - Ranveer Singh-fronted spy action thriller Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has crossed a massive 50 crore in worldwide advance bookings for its opening weekend, before 7 days of its theatrical release, signalling one of the biggest openings for a Bollywood film in recent times. Aditya Dhar's directed sequel has generated extraordinary hype ahead of its March 19 release, with paid preview shows scheduled a day earlier on March 18. The film sold over four lakh tickets in India for premiere shows, reflecting strong audience demand across multiplexes and single screens. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) As of now, Dhurandhar 2 has grossed around 21.50 crore in India for its March 18 premiere, while overseas markets, especially North America, have contributed heavily to the advance sales. The overseas pre-sales for the entire opening weekend are around 35 crores, including around 27 crores from North America alone. The combined worldwide pre-sales of the film are already around 56+ crore. The advance sales abroad have already surpassed the opening weekend numbers of the first Dhurandhar, indicating much bigger global anticipation for the sequel. The film is not in a position to comfortably cross 100 crore pre-sales globally, with some projections even suggesting it could finish above 150 crore, as full-fledged booking in India is yet to open. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar 2 (Dhurandhar: The Revenge) is set for a historic opening. According to latest data, the film's premier shows have already recorded a massive ₹19.01 Crore gross in advance bookings (without block seats). Gautam Dutta, CEO of PVR INOX, told Variety that the film is designed for the specific scale and emotion that only a theatrical experience can provide. As the countdown to the release begins, the industry is witnessing an unprecedented demand for pre-release screenings. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film has leveraged its high-octane trailer and the announcement of paid previews to create a massive surge in ticket sales. Despite premium pricing, the momentum suggests that the film is moving from a sequel to a major cinematic event. The hard numbers for the premier shows confirm the groundswell of anticipation. Dhurandhar: The Revenge has sold 356,817 tickets across 8,371 shows nationwide for its previews. The All-India gross stands at ₹19.01 Crore, which jumps to ₹24.2 Crore when including blocked seats. The Hindi 2D version is the primary driver, contributing ₹18.51 Crore with an average ticket price (ATP) of ₹414. The film is also seeing healthy traction in the South, with the Tamil and Telugu versions contributing significantly to the overall tally. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   Speaking to Variety India about the film's technical and emotional appeal, Gautam Dutta emphasized that certain films demand a multiplex environment to be fully appreciated. Films like Dhurandhar: The Revenge are made for the scale, sound and emotion that only cinemas can deliver,Dutta stated. He noted that the response has been phenomenal, leading the multiplex chain to expand the film's screening network to meet the overwhelming interest. With a ₹19.01 Cr (pure gross) start, Dhurandhar 2 has officially overtaken the record previously held by Stree 2, becoming the top Bollywood film for preview show collections. The focus now shifts to whether it can surpass the all-time Indian record held by Pawan Kalyan's They Call Him OG for paid previews. Dutta confirmed that PVR INOX alone has already accounted for over 150,000 advance tickets, reinforcing the trend that audiences are intentionally choosing the big screen to experience this particular story first.Bankrolled by B62 Studios and Jio Studios, Dhurandhar: The Revenge features a high-profile ensemble including Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi. With the current momentum, the film is projected to set new benchmarks for Bollywood, potentially outperforming the lifetime business of its predecessor.

BY SACNILK

The advance bookings for Pawan Kalyan's much-anticipated action entertainer, Ustaad Bhagat Singh, have opened on a strong note in the North American market. With nine days remaining until the scheduled premieres, the film is already witnessing significant traction across major theater chains in the United States. According to the latest trade data from Venky Box Office, the film has grossed over $82,176 in USA premiere advances alone, with the total North American figure (including Canada) hovering around the $89,000 mark. This early momentum signals high anticipation for the Power Star's return to the big screen in a high-octane role. As of March 10, the film has recorded sales across 196 locations and 592 shows, with 3,372 tickets already sold. The Texas region is currently emerging as the primary stronghold for the film, contributing a massive $45,976 to the total gross. Specifically, Cinemark West Plano and Cinemark Pflugerville are leading the charts as the highest-grossing theaters during this initial phase. These numbers are expected to surge significantly as more screens are added and the release date approaches, given Pawan Kalyan's historically strong pull in the overseas market. Ustaad Bhagat Singh marks the high-profile reunion of Pawan Kalyan and director Harish Shankar after their 2012 blockbuster Gabbar Singh. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers, the film features a star-studded cast including Sreeleela as the female lead, alongside Ashutosh Rana, Gautami, and Temper Vamsi in pivotal roles. The technical crew is equally formidable, with Devi Sri Prasad (DSP) handling the music and Ayananka Bose serving as the cinematographer. The collaboration between the Kalyan-Shankar-DSP trio has already generated massive buzz, particularly with the mass background scores teased in the promotional material. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})   While the film is an official adaptation of the 2016 Tamil hit Theri, director Harish Shankar has clarified that the script has been heavily reworked to suit Pawan Kalyan's persona and the current socio-political climate in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The plot follows the journey of Bhagat Singh, an aggressive and charismatic police officer who takes a stand against a powerful local antagonist. Unlike a standard remake, the Telugu version incorporates unique character beats and dialogues tailored specifically for the Power Star's fanbase. The film is set for a grand worldwide theatrical release on March 19, 2026. Given the current trend in the United States, Ustaad Bhagat Singh is eyeing a massive opening weekend. The North American market has always been a key territory for Pawan Kalyan's films, and with the Gabbar Singh combination returning after over a decade, the movie is expected to set new benchmarks for the actor in the overseas circuit.