Dhurandhar Shatters ₹1000 Cr Mark, Faces Gulf Ban Setback

Ranveer Singh’s film, Dhurandhar, has achieved remarkable success internationally, surpassing the ₹1000 crore threshold at the box office. Directed by Aditya Dhar, this spy thriller unfolds in two parts and has become the top-grossing Indian film of 2025. Set against the backdrop of Karachi’s Lyari district, it showcases Singh as an Indian spy who infiltrates a Pakistani criminal gang. The impressive cast also includes Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun.

However, the film faced a ban from multiple Middle Eastern nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, which resulted in a hefty loss of approximately ₹90 crore (around $10 million) in overseas revenues.

Pranab Kapadia, the film's overseas distributor, highlighted the significance of the Gulf market for Indian action films, noting its traditionally robust performance. He confirmed that the ban led to a substantial financial setback of about $10 million. Kapadia remarked that every effort was made to ensure a Gulf release, but adherence to each country's regulations ultimately prevailed.

Nonetheless, the film captured a broad audience elsewhere. The timing of its release, coinciding with the December holiday period, contributed to mitigating some losses. Many viewers from Gulf nations opted to watch the film while vacationing in Europe or the US during the holiday season.

Kapadia stated, “Many fans from the Gulf traveled overseas during December holidays and managed to watch Dhurandhar. The timing of the release, coinciding with the holiday period, helped the film reach its audience despite the ban.”

Dhurandhar has received commendations for its gripping narrative and its intense depiction of geopolitical conflicts and anti-terrorism efforts. While reviews have varied, its box office triumph signifies the film’s strong resonance with viewers.