AMB Cinemas

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Advance bookings for Dhurandhar 2 previews on March 18 are seeing an extraordinary response across Hyderabad.
• The Ranveer Singh action thriller is drawing massive crowds despite its massive three-hour and 55-minute runtime and an adult-only ‘A’ certificate.
• Premium multiplexes like AMB Cinemas and Prasads are rapidly filling up, even as the movie clashes with Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh.

The real surprise here is the timing. Tollywood is gearing up for a massive box office battle on March 19, with Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh arriving in theatres. Naturally, the local release fever for the Power Star is incredibly high right now. At the same time, Dhurandhar 2 is holding its own, pulling in huge numbers for its exclusive preview shows planned for March 18.

Premium multiplexes across the city are feeling the heat. At Gachibowli’s AMB Cinemas, preview shows are already sold out. Meanwhile, tickets at Prasads Multiplex are locked in a fast-filling mode. Single screens and other multiplexes across Hyderabad are also flashing housefull boards left and right as fans rush to secure their seats.

Defying the Odds

What makes this booking trend even more impressive are the huge hurdles the movie faces. First, it’s clashing directly with a major Pawan Kalyan release. Second, director Aditya Dhar delivered a movie with a staggering runtime of 3 hours and 55 minutes. On top of that, the censor board handed the film a strict ‘A’ certificate for strong action and violence.

Usually, a four-hour runtime makes audiences think twice before heading to the theatre. Families also tend to stay away from adult-rated action thrillers. But looking at the current ticket sales, none of these factors are slowing down Dhurandhar 2.

The sheer hype for the content has easily pushed past these roadblocks. If the early premiere shows deliver positive word-of-mouth, we can expect the opening weekend numbers to hit historic highs.