Dhurandhar 2 Budget Breakdown: Box Office, Fees & ROI 2026
Every once in a while, a film comes along that completely rewrites the rulebook of Indian cinema economics. Late 2025 gave us exactly that kind of monster hit. When Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar first hit the screens, it faced a wave of pre-release skepticism. Fast forward a few months, and the espionage action-thriller didn’t just silence its critics—it shattered the glass ceiling of the Hindi box office. Now, the hype train has officially left the station for the second and final installment of this duology: Dhurandhar: The Revenge (widely referred to as Dhurandhar 2).
Scheduled for a massive pan-India release on March 19, 2026, the sequel arrives with the kind of momentum that studio executives dream about. But with great box office power comes a gargantuan production budget. As the film gears up for a historic four-day extended opening weekend—coinciding with Eid-al-Fitr, Ugadi, and Gudi Padwa—the industry is buzzing with questions. How much did it cost to scale up the action? What are the actors charging after the prequel’s historic success? And most importantly, can it survive a box office bloodbath against Yash’s ₹600 crore South Indian juggernaut, Toxic?
Let’s dive deep into the verified numbers, the star remuneration reports, and the raw trade data to understand the financial anatomy of Dhurandhar 2.
The Phenomenon of Dhurandhar: A ₹1,354 Crore Predecessor
Before we can accurately project the financial trajectory of Dhurandhar 2, we have to look at the jaw-dropping context of its predecessor. You simply cannot analyze the sequel’s ₹475 crore budget without acknowledging the goldmine that Part 1 turned out to be for Jio Studios and B62 Studios.
Wrapping up its 75-day theatrical run in February 2026, the first Dhurandhar closed with numbers that left trade analysts stunned. Made on a reported budget of ₹225 crore, the film raked in an astronomical ₹1,354.84 crore worldwide.
In India alone, it amassed a net collection of ₹894.49 crore, officially dethroning Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 (₹836.09 crore) to become the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time. It also registered 3.6 crore footfalls, making it the most-watched Bollywood film in the post-pandemic era.
Dhurandhar (Part 1) Final Box Office Closing Data
| TERRITORY / METRIC | COLLECTION FIGURE |
|---|---|
| India Net Collection | ₹894.49 Crore |
| India Gross Collection | ₹1,002.39 Crore |
| Overseas Gross | ₹299.35 Crore |
| Worldwide Gross | ₹1,354.84 Crore |
| Production Budget | ₹225 Crore |
| Final ROI (Producers) | ₹669.49 Crore (297.55%) |
| Box Office Verdict | All-Time Blockbuster |
The overseas performance was equally historic. Director Aditya Dhar’s previous blockbuster, Uri: The Surgical Strike, made a respectable ₹48 crore internationally. Dhurandhar earned a staggering 523% more, pulling in ₹299.35 crore and becoming the highest-grossing Bollywood film in North America with $20.65 million. For Ranveer Singh, who previously peaked overseas with Padmaavat (₹176 crore) and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (₹168 crore), this was a career-defining global triumph.
Dhurandhar 2 Production Budget Breakdown
When you deliver a 300% return on investment, the studio opens the checkbook for the sequel. According to verified trade reports, Dhurandhar: The Revenge has been mounted on a staggering budget of ₹475 crore.
Why the massive jump from ₹225 crore to ₹475 crore? The answer lies in the scale of production and the strategic decision to shoot the films back-to-back. While the story was originally conceived as a single film, its narrative complexity forced Dhar to split it into a duology. Principal photography spanned from July 2024 to October 2025, with additional patch shoots in January and February 2026.
The production traveled extensively, setting up massive practical action set-pieces in Bangkok, Thailand, as well as Indian locations like Punjab, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh—many of which were meticulously production-designed to double as Pakistan-set sequences (specifically the Lyari neighborhood).
Estimated Budget Allocation for Dhurandhar 2
| BUDGET COMPONENT | ESTIMATED COST | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Production & Filming | ₹230 Crore | Location permits, massive practical sets, international crew, and extensive 18-month back-to-back shooting schedules. |
| Star Cast & Director Fees | ₹90 Crore | Escalated talent remuneration (detailed below). |
| VFX & Post-Production | ₹85 Crore | High-end CGI for explosive action sequences, editing by Shivkumar V. Panicker, and sound design. |
| Prints & Advertising (P&A) | ₹70 Crore | Pan-India 5-language dubbing (Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada) and aggressive global marketing. |
| Total Estimated Budget | ₹475 Crore | Exclusive of backend profit-sharing deals. |
The ₹70 crore allocated for Prints and Advertising is particularly notable. Jio Studios is treating this not just as a Hindi film, but as a Pan-Indian tentpole. The sequel is being dubbed in four major Southern languages, requiring a localized marketing blitz in territories traditionally dominated by Tollywood and Kollywood.
Star Cast Salaries: How Much Did the Actors Charge?
A major chunk of the ₹475 crore budget has been allocated to the ensemble cast. Dhurandhar features a heavy-hitting lineup of veteran actors, and their remuneration reflects the premium nature of the franchise.
Ranveer Singh, playing the ruthless yet morally driven Hamza, is currently enjoying his biggest commercial peak. According to industry insiders, Singh’s upfront fee for the Dhurandhar franchise sits between ₹30 crore and ₹50 crore. Given his newfound leverage as the face of India’s highest-grossing Hindi film, it is highly likely he also commands a backend profit-sharing percentage for Part 2.
The supporting cast, who bring immense gravitas to the espionage universe, also took home substantial paychecks:
- R. Madhavan: Playing Ajay Sanyal, Madhavan is the second-highest-paid actor in the ensemble, commanding a solid ₹9 crore for his crucial role.
- Sanjay Dutt: Portraying SP Chaudhary Aslam, the veteran star was paid ₹2.5 crore. His raw, mass-appeal presence is a major draw for single-screen theaters.
- Akshaye Khanna: Though his character, Rehman Dakait, met his demise in the first film (sparking the revenge plot of the sequel), Khanna was paid ₹2.5 crore for his acclaimed performance.
- Arjun Rampal: Playing the formidable Major Iqbal, Rampal took home ₹1 crore.
- Sara Arjun: Portraying Yalina Jamali, the talented actress was reportedly paid ₹1 crore.
The Mystery of ‘Bade Sahab’ and New Cast Additions
The marketing brilliance of Dhurandhar 2 lies in its guarded secrets. The teaser, which dropped in early February 2026, hinted at Hamza’s mission in Lyari, where his path crosses with Major Iqbal’s shadowy superior, known only as “Bade Sahab.”
While fan theories ran wild—suggesting the character might be a proxy for real-life underworld figures—a recent leak on the film indexing site Letterboxd sent Reddit into a frenzy. The cast list briefly featured Emraan Hashmi, leading to massive speculation that he is the man behind the “Bade Sahab” persona. Though the makers have kept this strictly under wraps, if true, Hashmi’s inclusion would add a massive premium to the cast budget. Additionally, director Aditya Dhar’s wife, Yami Gautam, is confirmed to be making a pivotal cameo that ties the broader spy-action universe together.
The Ultimate Box Office Clash: Dhurandhar 2 vs. Toxic
March 19, 2026, is going to be a bloodbath for exhibitors. Dhurandhar 2 is locking horns with Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, a period gangster epic directed by Geetu Mohandas and starring KGF-fame Yash.
This isn’t just a regular box office clash; it’s a battle of cinematic economies. While Dhurandhar 2 boasts a ₹475 crore budget, Toxic is mounted on an even more absurd ₹600 crore budget, with Yash alone reportedly taking home ₹50 crore and Kiara Advani charging ₹15 crore.
How will this impact Dhurandhar 2’s box office?
In the South Indian markets (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu), Toxic will undeniably eat into Dhurandhar‘s screen count and opening numbers. However, in the core Hindi belt, the domination is expected to be entirely one-sided in favor of Ranveer Singh.
Day 1 and Opening Weekend Predictions
The first Dhurandhar opened to ₹28.60 crore on a non-holiday. The sequel, however, is a different beast entirely. Riding on unprecedented goodwill and releasing during the lucrative Eid-al-Fitr, Ugadi, and Gudi Padwa window, advance tracking suggests Dhurandhar 2 is in a comfortable position to register a smashing ₹60 crore+ net at the Indian box office on Day 1.
Trade analysts are closely watching to see if it can beat Stree 2’s record for the biggest opening for a Bollywood sequel (₹64.8 crore). Even in a clash situation, the four-day extended weekend gives Dhurandhar 2 a very realistic shot at crossing the ₹200 crore net mark by Sunday. For context, Pushpa 2 entered the ₹200 crore club in just 3 days, while Jawan and Animal took 4 days. Dhurandhar 2 is primed to join this elite tier.
Profit/Loss Analysis: The Road to Breakeven
Can a ₹475 crore film be profitable when facing such intense competition? The short answer: Absolutely.
The economics of modern Indian blockbusters rely heavily on non-theatrical revenue. The first Dhurandhar is currently streaming on Netflix, and the platform has reportedly shelled out a massive premium to secure the post-theatrical digital rights for the sequel. When you combine the OTT rights, satellite broadcast rights, and music rights (composed by Shashwat Sachdev), Jio Studios and B62 Studios will likely recover upwards of ₹200-250 crore before a single theater ticket is sold.
To be declared a clean “Hit” at the box office, Dhurandhar 2 will need to gross roughly ₹550-600 crore worldwide. Given that its predecessor comfortably cruised past ₹1,350 crore, achieving breakeven seems less like a challenge and more like a mere formality. The real question isn’t whether it will be profitable, but rather how high the profit margins will soar. If the film connects emotionally and delivers on its raw, brutal action promises, we could be looking at another 200%+ ROI scenario.
Key Factors Behind the Franchise’s Success
What makes Dhurandhar so financially resilient?
- Aditya Dhar’s Direction: Dhar has proven he understands the pulse of the mass audience. He doesn’t just direct action; he directs emotion. His ability to blend high-stakes espionage with grounded, gritty realism (eschewing the overly glossy look of other Bollywood spy universes) gives the film a unique texture.
- Ranveer Singh’s Re-invention: Moving away from his flamboyant, energetic off-screen persona, Singh’s intense, brooding portrayal of Hamza has tapped into a demographic of action-lovers who were hungry for a new alpha-hero.
- Strategic Release Timing: By locking in March 19, the makers are capitalizing on a multi-festival window that guarantees massive walk-ins from both single screens and multiplexes.
Conclusion: Will History Be Rewritten?
As the countdown to March 19, 2026, continues, all eyes are on Aditya Dhar. If Dhurandhar: The Revenge manages to replicate even 80% of its prequel’s success, Dhar will become the first Indian director to achieve the ₹800 crore net milestone twice.
The clash with Toxic will undoubtedly result in some revenue loss, particularly in the Southern circuits. Yet, the sheer momentum of the Dhurandhar brand, coupled with the suspense surrounding the “Bade Sahab” reveal, makes it a virtually unstoppable force. Whether it surpasses the ₹1,354 crore benchmark remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Indian box office is about to witness a spectacle of epic proportions.
Written by the Editorial Team
Sources
- Koimoi – Dhurandhar Worldwide Box Office Closing Collection
- NewsBytes – Box office: Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’ stands tall with ₹1,354cr
- ABP Live – Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar Nears 300 Crore Overseas
- India Times – Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar wraps up historic run
- India.com – Dhurandhar 2 vs Toxic on March 19: Cast, fee & run-time
- Indian Express – Actor who plays ‘Bade Sahab’ in Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2
- Gulf News – ‘Dhurandhar 2’ cast revealed: Will Yami Gautam and Emraan Hashmi join
- Wikipedia – Dhurandhar: The Revenge
