The much-anticipated action sequel Dhurandhar: The Revenge is already rewriting box office history even before its theatrical debut. The film, starring Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar, is scheduled to release worldwide on March 19, 2026.
With a massive runtime of 235 minutes (3 hours and 55 minutes), the film has generated extraordinary demand among moviegoers. Due to overwhelming ticket bookings, theatres across several cities have started scheduling post-midnight and early-morning shows, a rare move for a Hindi film before its official opening day.
Post-Midnight Shows Added Due To Huge Demand
According to industry reports, theatres in major circuits like Mumbai, Pune, and Ahmedabad have already opened bookings for shows starting as early as 2:00 AM on Thursday.
Multiplex chains in Mumbai are leading this unusual trend. Cinemas such as MovieMax Sion and MovieMax Wonder Mall have scheduled multiple screenings between 2:15 AM and 5:30 AM to meet the huge demand for tickets.
Similar scheduling patterns are now being followed in Pune and Ahmedabad as well, where theatres are preparing for round-the-clock screenings. Exhibition sources suggest that more cinemas could adopt a 24-hour screening format in the coming days if the demand continues to surge.
Maratha Mandir Adjusts Iconic DDLJ Show Timing
The nearly four-hour runtime of Dhurandhar: The Revenge has also forced a rare schedule change at Mumbai’s historic cinema hall Maratha Mandir.
For decades, the classic film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge has been screened daily at 11:30 AM at the theatre. However, starting March 18, the show timing will shift to 10:00 AM to accommodate the long runtime of the new release.
This adjustment will allow the theatre to screen Dhurandhar: The Revenge at 1:15 PM, 5:30 PM, and 9:45 PM. While schedule changes have happened during big releases like Animal and Pushpa 2: The Rule, shifting the iconic DDLJ slot remains a rare occurrence.
Massive Advance Booking Numbers
The film is also dominating the advance booking charts with remarkable pre-sales figures.
For the paid preview shows scheduled on March 18, the film has already generated ₹38.50 crore gross.
Meanwhile, the official opening day (March 19) advance booking in India has crossed ₹24.50 crore, with over 6.25 lakh tickets sold across more than 13,000 shows nationwide.
Combined Pre-Sales Cross ₹123 Crore Worldwide
International markets are also showing strong interest in the film. Overseas advance sales for the opening weekend are estimated at around ₹60 crore.
When combining Indian premiere collections and Day 1 advance booking, the film’s total pre-sales have already crossed ₹123 crore worldwide, including block bookings.
With two days still remaining before release, trade analysts believe the numbers will continue to rise as more midnight and early-morning shows are added across the country.
Star-Studded Cast Raises Expectations
Apart from Ranveer Singh, the film also features a powerful ensemble cast including R. Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, and Arjun Rampal.
With massive advance booking, unconventional show timings, and intense audience anticipation, Dhurandhar: The Revenge is now poised to deliver one of the biggest openings in Bollywood history when it arrives in cinemas this week.