Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar has emerged as a historic success at the global box office, rewriting records for Indian cinema in 2025. Despite facing bans in several key overseas markets, the Ranveer Singh–starrer has crossed an impressive $27 million in international collections, making it the highest-grossing Indian film overseas this year. Industry experts believe the numbers could have been significantly higher if the film had secured a release across the Middle East, a region traditionally known for its strong support of Indian action films.
In a recent interaction with CNN-News18, the film’s distributor, Parnab Kapadia, opened up about the financial impact of the ban. According to him, Dhurandhar suffered a major setback in terms of revenue due to its non-release in several Gulf nations. “I think this is at least a $10 million box office loss, which is roughly around ₹90 crore,” Kapadia said. He emphasized that action-driven Indian films historically perform exceptionally well in Middle Eastern territories, making the absence of Dhurandhar there particularly disappointing.
However, Kapadia also acknowledged the importance of respecting local regulations and sentiments. “At the same time, we have to respect the views, rules and regulations of every territory and country, as they have their reasons,” he explained. He added that Dhurandhar was not the first Indian film to face such a situation, pointing out that films like Fighter and several others were also denied releases in the region. “We made every possible effort to ensure the film was released, but ultimately, Dhurandhar has found its audience, if not in the Gulf, then elsewhere,” he said.
The film was barred from release in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, along with Pakistan. These territories have consistently been among the most lucrative overseas markets for Indian cinema in recent years. Despite this setback, Dhurandhar managed to outperform expectations, proving that strong content and global appeal can overcome geographical limitations.
Kapadia further credited the December holiday season for boosting the film’s overseas performance. Released in the latter half of December, Dhurandhar benefited from peak travel time, when many people from the Middle East travel to Europe and North America for vacations. “A lot of people travel overseas during this period, especially from the Middle East to the US or Europe,” Kapadia noted. “Because the film released during the holiday window, audiences were able to find time to watch it while travelling, often setting aside an evening during their trips.”
This strategic release timing worked in the film’s favor, particularly in North America, which emerged as its strongest overseas market. In just 26 days, Dhurandhar earned $27.5 million internationally, with an impressive $17 million coming from the US and Canada alone. These numbers have propelled the film’s global box office collection to a staggering ₹1101 crore, cementing its status as one of the biggest Indian blockbusters of the year.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar is a high-octane spy action thriller that places Ranveer Singh in the role of Hamza, an Indian intelligence operative. The story follows Hamza as he infiltrates the criminal network of Rehman Dakait, portrayed by Akshaye Khanna, in Pakistan’s Lyari region. Operating deep within hostile territory, Hamza gathers and relays crucial intelligence to RAW from within the ISI network, setting the stage for intense action and high-stakes drama.
The film boasts a powerful ensemble cast, including Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, and Sanjay Dutt in pivotal roles. Rakesh Bedi and Sara Arjun also feature prominently, adding depth to the narrative. Backed by slick direction, large-scale action sequences, and strong performances, Dhurandhar has resonated with audiences worldwide.
With the film’s massive success, anticipation is already building for its sequel. The follow-up installment is slated for a theatrical release on March 19, 2026, and is expected to expand the spy universe established in the first film. However, it will face stiff competition at the box office, as it is set to clash with Yash’s much-anticipated Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups.
Despite the challenges it faced, Dhurandhar has proven that compelling storytelling and global appeal can transcend market barriers. Its record-breaking overseas run stands as a testament to the growing influence of Indian cinema on the world stage.
