It is rare for a film to cross ₹1,700 crore worldwide and still be described as an “underdog.” Yet, according to director Kunal Kohli, that is exactly what happened with the Dhurandhar franchise. Speaking to SCREEN, Kohli exposed how some of the “biggest directors” in the industry were not just skeptical, but were actively rooting for the film to crash.
The Infamous “Monday” Prediction
Kohli revealed that during the initial release days, he spoke to several high-profile industry insiders who were dismissive of the film’s massive opening weekend.
- The Quote: “The biggest directors I spoke to said, ‘Monday ko baith jayegi’ (The film will fall flat on Monday). Monday ko aur chal gayi (Instead, it performed even better on Monday).”
- The Reality: Dhurandhar 2 defied these “experts” by collecting a record ₹65 crore on its first Monday, proving that the audience’s verdict is the only one that matters.
A Pattern of “Industry Negativity”
Kohli pointed out that Dhurandhar isn’t the only film to face this cold shoulder. He cited Sunny Deol’s Border 2 as another example of a blockbuster that succeeded without the “elite” backing of Bollywood.
- On Border 2: “Nobody supported Border 2. People said it dipped in the second week. It has done ₹300 crore plus! It’s a blockbuster. End of discussion.”
- The Message: Kohli argues that 99% of people in the industry don’t want their peers to succeed, calling it a “stab in the back” culture rather than a “scratch my back” one.
Dhurandhar 2: Box Office Snapshot (Day 27)
Despite the lack of industry cheers, the numbers speak for themselves. The film is currently the 4th highest-grossing Indian film of all time.
