Despite Gulf Ban, Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar Surpasses ₹1000 Cr at Box Office

Ranveer Singh’s latest project, Dhurandhar, has achieved monumental success worldwide, breaking the ₹1000 crore barrier at the box office. Directed by Aditya Dhar, this riveting spy thriller unfolds in two parts and has emerged as the top-grossing Indian film of 2025. Set in the tumultuous streets of Karachi’s Lyari area, the film showcases Singh as an Indian undercover agent infiltrating a Pakistani gang, supported by a stellar cast including Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun.

Despite its strong performance in India and other markets, Dhurandhar faced a significant setback with bans in several Middle Eastern nations, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, resulting in an estimated ₹90 crore (around $10 million) in lost overseas revenue.

Pranab Kapadia, the film's overseas distributor, emphasized the importance of the Gulf market for Indian action films, which historically thrive there. He acknowledged that the ban led to a substantial financial setback of about $10 million but stated that they had to abide by the laws and regulations of each nation despite their efforts to secure a release.

Nonetheless, the film managed to attract a significant audience elsewhere. The distributor highlighted that the release timing around the December holiday season helped mitigate some losses, as many fans from Gulf countries traveled abroad and attended screenings in Europe and the US.

Pranab remarked, “Numerous fans from the Gulf ventured overseas during the December holidays, enabling them to watch Dhurandhar. The release during this festive period played a crucial role in reaching our audience despite the bans.”

Though it garnered mixed reviews, Dhurandhar has been celebrated for its compelling narrative and immersive depiction of anti-terror operations alongside geopolitical challenges. Its box office achievement showcases its broad appeal among viewers.