Hindi
Badmaash Company reigns as new releases fail to gather muster
MUMBAI: Last week saw the release of three low-cost films – Bumm Bumm Bole, Bal Hanuman 2 and Kushti and none could muster a face-saving opening.
While the industry was expecting the Darsheel Safary-starrer to at least manage a good opening, the numbers that it has registered at the box office are extremely disappointing. And the same is the case of Hanuman 2 and Kushti.
Given the fact that Kushti has Rajpal Yadav in a duel with Khali, people seemed excited to view the film from the comedy angle but the film also couldn‘t register a decent opening.
Though Bal Hanuman 2 saw some excitement among children, its opening too couldn‘t excite the box-office.
Avers Fun Cinemas COO Vishal Kapur, “Among the three films, we screened only Bumm Bumm Bole and Bal Hanuman 2, both made for the children audience. But due to poor content, the films could attract only between 20 to 25 per cent footfalls. On the other hand, Badmaash Company and Housefull continued to do great business.”
Yash Raj Films‘ Badmaash Company that had registered an opening weekend haul of Rs 135 million, grossed Rs 210 million in its opening week. And now, the film, in its second weekend, grossed Rs 90 million.
Meanwhile, Sajid Nadiawala‘s Housefull that had grossed Rs 950 million in its first week globally, annexed Rs 480 million in India alone in its second week.
All eyes now rest on the much publicised Hrithik Roshan-Barbara Mori starrer Kites that will hit theatres on 21 May.
Hindi
Dhurandhar 2 hit by YouTube leak amid record box office run
Cam-rip surfaces online but blockbuster streak continues at record pace
MUMBAI: It has been a dramatic week for Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Even as the espionage thriller smashes box office records, a piracy scare briefly threatened to steal its thunder after a full-length version surfaced on YouTube.
The leak emerged on March 30 via a channel titled “A2z movie”, which uploaded what appeared to be a cam-recorded print of the film. Clocking in at nearly three hours and 49 minutes, the footage was reportedly blurry but complete enough to spark spoilers and fan outrage online.
Soon after, users on X began flagging the issue, explicitly naming the “A2z movie” channel in their posts while tagging the film’s makers and urging swift legal action. Fans of director Aditya Dhar and lead star Ranveer Singh were particularly vocal, helping the issue gain rapid traction.
Within hours, the video was taken down, likely through a mix of platform detection systems and intervention by producers Jio Studios and B62 Studios.
Despite the leak, the film’s theatrical run remains virtually unshaken. As of March 31, the sequel has raked in an estimated Rs 872.17 crore net in India, with worldwide collections soaring to Rs 1,392.23 crore. Its Hindi opening day alone brought in Rs 102.55 crore, setting a new benchmark.
In a notable milestone, the film has matched Pushpa 2 as the fastest Indian release to cross the Rs 1,000 crore mark globally, achieving the feat in just seven days.
Interestingly, the version leaked online is believed to be an earlier cut. Midway through its theatrical run, the makers issued revised prints after eagle-eyed viewers spotted a fleeting editing error involving a cameraman’s reflection. The corrected version now plays across cinemas, adding an unusual twist to the film’s release journey.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the high-stakes sequel stars Ranveer Singh alongside Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and Sara Arjun. The film has drawn praise for its scale and action sequences, though some critics have pointed to its intense violence and layered political themes.
For now, piracy may have made noise, but it has not slowed the juggernaut. If anything, the episode underlines the film’s cultural grip, proving that even a leak cannot derail a box office storm already in full force.
