In a seismic shift for Indian cinema, the espionage thriller Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has officially unseated SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali 2: The Conclusion to become the highest-grossing Indian film of all time in the North American market. The feat, which stood unchallenged for nearly a decade, has prompted a gracious response from the man who once stood at the center of the Baahubali phenomenon: Rana Daggubati.
A Milestone a Decade in the Making
As of April 2026, Dhurandhar 2, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, has hauled in a staggering USD 24.39 million (approximately ₹200 crore) in North America alone. This pushes it past the USD 20.80 million lifetime record set by Baahubali 2 in 2017.
Rana Daggubati, who played the iconic antagonist Bhallaladeva, reacted to the news with a mix of pride for the industry’s growth and a grounded perspective on the passage of time.
“It’s good. It’s a decade later, but it’s still very good,” Rana shared in a recent conversation with Variety India. “I think we’re all still touching the tip of the iceberg.”
The Global Surge: Crossing the ₹1,500 Crore Mark
While the North American record is the headline, the film’s overall momentum is nothing short of historic. In just over two weeks since its March 19 release, Dhurandhar 2 has:
Worldwide Gross: Surpassed ₹1,523 crore.
Domestic Net (India): Approaching the elusive ₹1,000 crore club.
Speed Record: Became the fastest Indian film to reach the ₹1,500 crore milestone globally.
The film is now effectively chasing the lifetime global totals of Pushpa 2 (₹1,742 crore) and the worldwide record of Baahubali 2 (₹1,788 crore). Industry analysts suggest that if the current trajectory holds, even Aamir Khan’s Dangal (₹2,070 crore) might finally face a serious challenger.
The “Dhurandhar” Formula: Why It’s Resonating
Beyond the high-octane action and Ranveer Singh’s powerhouse performance as Hamza, Rana Daggubati pointed toward a deeper reason for the film’s international success. He noted that while “spectacle” films like Baahubali opened the door, it is the “human understanding” in local stories that keeps the audience coming back.
“You’ll have Baahubalis, you’ll have Dhurandhars… but the cinema that’s personal will be able to resonate far across,” Rana remarked. He cited the film’s success in non-traditional markets like France as proof that Indian “local stories” are now a global currency.
Box Office Breakdown: A Pan-India Giant
Despite being a sequel to a Hindi blockbuster, Dhurandhar 2 has shown remarkable legs in South Indian markets. On its 16th day, the film saw a nearly 18% jump in collections, fueled by strong occupancy in Telugu and Tamil dubbed versions.
What’s Next for the Franchise?
The success of Dhurandhar 2 has solidified Aditya Dhar’s position as a master of the “espionage war” genre. With the film acting as a high-stakes bridge between gritty origins and modern-day warfare, rumors of a third installment are already swirling.
For now, the industry celebrates a new king of the overseas box office. As Rana Daggubati aptly put it, the ceiling has been raised once again, proving that for Indian cinema, the world is no longer just a secondary market—it’s the main stage. To
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