Filmmaker Aditya Dhar’s latest spy thriller, “Dhurandhar,” starring Ranveer Singh, has made history by becoming the highest-grossing Bollywood film in North America, surpassing the collection of Shah Rukh Khan’s “Pathaan.
” Earning over $17.50 million, the film has captivated western audiences, though it still trails behind pan-Indian hits like “Kalki 2898 AD” and “Baahubali 2” in total earnings.
However, the victory is bittersweet. Distributors revealed the movie suffered a massive loss of at least $10 million due to being banned in major Gulf markets—including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar—as well as Pakistan.
These regions are traditionally lucrative for Indian action films, and the ban, likely due to the sensitive plot involving Indian spies in Pakistan, has significantly impacted global revenue.
The film weaves together real-life geopolitical events like the 1999 hijacking and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Despite mixed reviews from critics, strong audience word-of-mouth has propelled “Dhurandhar” to cross the ₹1,100 crore mark worldwide. The commercial success proves that Ranveer Singh’s star power can drive massive numbers even without traditional Middle Eastern support.
Cloudflare