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In a year where Bollywood has depended heavily on big names to pull crowds back into cinemas Dhurandhar arrived as one of the industry’s most ambitious bets. With Ranveer Singh leading a striking ensemble Sanjay Dutt Akshaye Khanna R Madhavan and Arjun Rampal the spy thriller promised scale spectacle and star wattage. The teaser dropped months earlier only amplified the buzz. Its atmospheric visuals and Hanumankind’s pulsating rap track sparked early excitement placing the film on the list of expected top openers of the year. But as the release weekend approaches that initial spark hasn’t translated into strong ticket sales. Sacnilk’s latest figures show that Dhurandhar has managed around Rs 2.5 crore in advance bookings so far far below trade expectations. Is the plot strong enough to pull weekend crowds? The film mixes fictional espionage with real events such as the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2001 Parliament attack. Ranveer plays a young prisoner handpicked by IB chief Ajay Sanyal for a dangerous undercover mission in Karachi. Once he enters Pakistan’s criminal underworld he navigates a maze of shifting loyalties brutal encounters and the emotional weight of living behind a mask for survival. The narrative promises intensity and high action but whether audiences respond in large numbers remains the crucial question. Why did the buzz cool down so sharply? Trade experts say the weekend now looks more modest than the early chatter suggested. At one point Dhurandhar was expected to chase a Rs 25 crore opening. Current estimates however have shrunk to Rs 15-18 crore and a few analysts warn it may settle even closer to Rs 15 crore. For comparison Saiyaara opened at Rs 21.50 crore Chhaava at Rs 31 crore and Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal remains untouched at a towering Rs 64 crore debut. Even so the film is still on track to give Ranveer his biggest post-COVID opening comfortably overtaking 83 which began with Rs 12.64 crore. Are audiences tiring of India-Pakistan spy dramas? One of the biggest hurdles appears to be genre fatigue. Spy thrillers set against India-Pakistan conflict lines have flooded theatres in recent years and viewers seem less eager to rush to cinemas for yet another one. Tiger 3 is a recent example of waning enthusiasm. Another unexpected challenge is the strong performance of Tere Ishk Mein starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon. The romantic drama is holding its ground well into the second week continuing to pull audiences during weekdays and tightening the competition.