Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar The Revenge bails out theatres in Telugu states

The 2026 Sankranthi season proved to be a financial boon for Tollywood, with Megastar Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad shattering regional box office records. Alongside, Anaganaga Oka Raju and Nari Nari Naduma Murari also emerged as successful hits, setting a strong start to the year.
However, following the festive period, the film industry faced a stark downturn. Theatres across both Telugu states saw sharp declines in occupancy, with many struggling to recover operational costs. Exhibitors faced significant losses over several days, leading some theatres to shut down voluntarily.
In this challenging scenario, Bollywood’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge arrived as a ray of hope. Although the Telugu release faced delays and didn’t meet initial expectations, the film’s second installment managed to generate substantial buzz, drawing large audiences and filling theatres nationwide.
Post-Sankranthi, theatres once again experienced packed houses, with many viewers returning disappointed due to ticket shortages. While dubbed films often lose momentum after opening weekend, Dhurandhar 2 defied trends, opening strongly and maintaining impressive occupancy levels. Notably, all matinee shows in Vizag were housefull, and other regions of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana also reported high turnout.
Achieving such occupancy figures outside a festival window is rare for a Telugu film, underscoring the film’s exceptional performance. Remarkably, a Bollywood film has single-handedly revived the theatre industry, demonstrating that audiences continue to crave quality content regardless of language.
Trade insiders initially predicted limited impact for Dhurandhar: The Revenge in Andhra Pradesh, but the actual results have surprised many. The summer season has begun on a high note, with exhibitors optimistic about sustained momentum, especially with upcoming releases like Biker, Dacoit, and Peddi.