The Hindi film industry has a new domestic box office champion. Dhurandhar has surged to the top of India’s theatrical charts, emerging as the highest-grossing Hindi film ever released in the country.
Within just 24 days, the period spy thriller collected ₹6.9 billion at the Indian box office, according to The Indian Express. The milestone places Dhurandhar ahead of every previous Hindi release, rewriting domestic box office history.
The film overtook Chhaava, which had earlier held the record amid controversy over its depiction of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Together, the two films highlight how spectacle-driven, nationalist narratives continue to dominate theatrical returns in Bollywood.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar follows the now-familiar template of high-octane espionage blended with ideological storytelling. Audiences responded in massive numbers, pushing the film past recent action blockbusters led by Shah Rukh Khan.
Khan’s 2023 releases Pathaan and Jawan earned ₹5.43 billion and ₹6.4 billion domestically, respectively. Dhurandhar surpassed both despite its release in a single version, underscoring the enduring pull of large-scale nationalist cinema.
The film also marks a strong commercial return for Ranveer Singh, who had not led a solo theatrical release in more than two years following Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. However, the more striking box office achievement belongs to his co-star.
Read: Dhurandhar Storms Past Rivals, Emerges as 2025’s Highest-Grossing Indian Film
Akshaye Khanna now holds a rare distinction. With roles in both Chhaava and Dhurandhar, he has appeared in the two highest-grossing Hindi films of the same calendar year. Only Shah Rukh Khan had previously achieved a similar feat, doing so in 2023 with Pathaan and Jawan.
In pure numerical terms, Khanna’s run goes even further. Dhurandhar and Chhaava together have earned ₹12.92 billion domestically, exceeding the combined total of Khan’s two blockbusters.
Dhurandhar’s extraordinary performance reinforces a clear trend in Hindi cinema. When filmmakers pair spectacle, ideological messaging, and star power at scale, audiences continue to respond decisively. As the numbers keep climbing, the film offers strong evidence that this commercial formula remains far from exhaustion.
