Dhurandhar 2 Becomes the Longest Indian Film of the 21st Century

The Dhurandhar franchise has rewritten several box office records, and now its sequel is making headlines for a completely different reason — its extraordinary runtime. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, which is scheduled to hit theatres on March 19, 2026, is reportedly locked at approximately 235 minutes, making it the longest Indian film released in the 21st century.

With this duration, the film surpasses Lagaan, the Aamir Khan-led epic that previously held the distinction of being one of the longest mainstream Indian blockbusters of the modern era.

A Franchise That Broke Records

The original Dhurandhar, released on December 5, turned into a massive global success. Even without dubbed language versions, the spy thriller managed to cross ₹1200 crore worldwide, setting new benchmarks for Hindi cinema. Its exceptional theatrical run established it as one of the biggest hits in recent times.

Not Initially Planned as a Two-Part Film

Interestingly, unlike large-scale franchises such as Baahubali 2: The Conclusion or Pushpa 2: The Rule, Dhurandhar was originally conceived as a standalone project. However, during post-production, the total footage reportedly exceeded seven hours. The creative team felt that trimming it down would compromise the storytelling and scale.

As a result, the makers decided to divide the narrative into two separate films — a decision that ultimately worked in their favor.

Financially Secure Sequel

The first installment not only recovered its entire production cost but also generated profits exceeding ₹300 crore. Because of this massive financial cushion, the sequel is entering theatres without the burden of recovering heavy production expenses. Trade experts describe it as a “free hit,” meaning it can focus purely on maximizing earnings rather than breaking even.

Ready for a Big Opening

The only notable box office milestones the first film narrowly missed were the all-time first-day and opening weekend records. With anticipation for Dhurandhar 2 at an all-time high — especially as it prepares for a major clash with Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups — industry watchers expect the sequel to open with explosive numbers.

Given its historic runtime, massive scale, and strong franchise goodwill, Dhurandhar 2 is poised to make cinematic history once again.