The advance booking window for Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar, the highly anticipated film from director Aditya Dhar, commenced on Monday, just four days ahead of its scheduled release on December 5. The pre-sales have started on a promising trajectory, though industry experts note the momentum is significantly inflated by exceptionally high ticket prices nationwide.
Exhibitors and cinema chains have applied a ‘blockbuster surcharge’ on Dhurandhar, a common practice for ‘in-demand’ films designed to maximize profits. This surcharge has pushed ticket prices for premium shows in metropolitan areas to surge beyond ₹2000.
Analysis of Dhurandhar Ticket Pricing
Advance booking for the film has opened for just under 3,000 shows across India. The average ticket price for the regular version of Dhurandhar on Friday is ₹307, with prices expected to be even higher for Sunday. This stands in stark contrast to the average opening day ticket price of ₹211 recorded for the film Tere Ishk Mein, which was released last week.
For the premium IMAX version, the average ticket price for Dhurandhar is higher still, settling at approximately ₹570 for the weekend.
The most extreme example of pricing is found at PVR Director’s Cut in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj, where the most expensive ticket is priced at a staggering ₹2400. Despite this cost, tickets in this premium segment are reportedly selling quickly.
- Metro Premium Demand: Many premium screenings in Delhi and Mumbai, featuring recliner seating, are offering tickets in excess of ₹1600 on Sunday. The tickets for similar shows at PVR Icon in Mumbai’s Andheri (priced at ₹1610) were already sold out for Friday.
- Tier-1 City Trends: Even in non-metros like Gurgaon, several premium tickets are priced at ₹2000. Additionally, IMAX tickets in tier-1 cities are being sold for over ₹1000 in multiple theatres.
Initial Booking Response
The advance booking period for Dhurandhar started strongly, with the film managing to sell over 20,000 tickets within the initial few hours on Monday. While the pace of sales has since moderated, it is widely expected to accelerate again over Wednesday and Thursday as the film nears its theatrical debut.
About the Film Dhurandhar
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar is a spy thriller that features Ranveer Singh in the lead role as an Indian spy who infiltrates the violent gangs of Pakistan’s Lyari Town. The film’s narrative is reportedly inspired by real events surrounding the Lyari gang wars, with many characters being drawn from real-life individuals. The ensemble cast also includes notable actors such as Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, and Sara Arjun. The film is set for release on December 5.