AceShowbiz - Dhurandhar: The Revenge is making waves at the domestic box office with a remarkable four-day North American debut, setting new records for Indian films in the U.S. The sequel to the December 2025 hit Dhurandhar earned an impressive $13 million, surpassing previous Indian blockbusters like RRR and Kalki 2898 AD.

India’s rich cinematic landscape is often misunderstood as a single entity known as Bollywood, but it actually consists of multiple independent industries categorized by language and culture. While the Oscar-winning RRR is a Telugu-language film from southern India, Dhurandhar: The Revenge represents the Mumbai-based Hindi-language film industry, commonly referred to as Bollywood. The movie stars Ranveer Singh in the lead role, with prominent actors Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal supporting the cast.

The original Dhurandhar, released in December 2025, faced mixed reviews but achieved massive commercial success worldwide, grossing nearly $150 million. Its sequel continues the story of an Indian spy who infiltrates the Pakistani underworld, rises through its ranks to become a local don, and aims to disrupt terror activities funded by the state.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge has earned approximately $53 million in India and $13 million in North America within just four days, bringing its global total to around $70 million. This positions the film among the biggest-ever Indian debuts worldwide. Directed by Aditya Dhar, who also co-wrote the script with Ojas Gautam, the movie runs for 212 minutes and is produced by Lokesh Dhar, Jyoti Deshpande, and Dhar himself.

Despite its commercial triumph, the film remains a lightning rod for controversy. Like its predecessor, Dhurandhar: The Revenge has been banned in the Gulf region. Critics accuse the movie of serving as a propaganda tool for India’s ruling Hindu right-wing party, due to its references to the government's contentious policies. Additionally, some have criticized the film’s portrayal of the Muslim community, sparking debates about representation and political messaging in Indian cinema.

Unlike its predecessor, which holds a 35% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Dhurandhar: The Revenge currently lacks an official score on the review aggregator. This absence may reflect ongoing controversies or limited critical screenings outside India. Audiences and industry watchers are closely monitoring how the film’s reception evolves amid its strong box office performance.

The film also outperformed the horror sequel Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, which earned $9 million domestically over the same weekend. This further underscores the growing impact of Indian films in the international market, especially those from Bollywood, which continue to expand their reach beyond traditional audiences.

As the film continues to draw audiences worldwide, it highlights the evolving narrative styles and commercial ambitions of Bollywood productions. The success of Dhurandhar: The Revenge demonstrates how Indian cinema is effectively competing on a global scale, even as controversies spark discussion about the cultural and political implications of mainstream films.

Stay tuned to Collider for further updates on Dhurandhar: The Revenge, including box office tracking and critical responses as the film expands its international release.