Hindi
A grand finale act Dhurandhar muscles into the Rs 1000 Crore club
MUMBAI: Just when 2025 looked set to bow out on a cautious note, Dhurandhar stepped in and rewrote the closing credits. The spy thriller led by Ranveer Singh has officially crossed the Rs 1,000 crore worldwide box office mark, a feat achieved by only a handful of Indian films. In recent years, that exclusive club has included titles such as Jawan, Pathaan, KGF Chapter 2, RRR and Baahubali 2 films that combined scale, spectacle and sustained audience interest. Dhurandhar’s entry into this bracket places it firmly among modern Indian cinema’s biggest commercial successes, and does so in a year where consistency was in short supply.
The film is supported by a formidable ensemble featuring Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal, whose performances lend gravitas to the espionage drama, alongside strong supporting turns by Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Danish Pandor, and Saumya Tandon, ensuring the narrative never relies on star power alone but is driven by depth across the cast.
What makes the milestone more striking is the film’s trajectory. Dhurandhar did not explode out of the gates with record-shattering opening numbers. Instead, it posted a measured opening, followed by unusually strong weekday holds. As early scepticism gave way to curiosity, word of mouth took control, and collections began climbing week on week rather than tapering off. Trade analysts point to this curve as the clearest indicator of genuine audience buy-in rather than front-loaded hype.
Social media played a decisive role in that shift. Clips highlighting the film’s gripping plot turns, tight screenplay and layered performances travelled rapidly across platforms, fuelling conversation beyond the usual fan bases. The ensemble cast, not just the lead star, found consistent praise, while discussions around the film’s narrative choices and pacing kept it trending long after release weekend. That digital buzz translated directly into footfalls, with repeat viewing emerging as a key driver of its late-stage box office surge.
By its third week, Dhurandhar had moved decisively into elite territory, pushing past Rs 1,050–1,100 crore globally, with overseas markets such as North America, the Middle East and Australia contributing meaningfully alongside a strong domestic run. For exhibitors and distributors, the film became a rare example of a release that grew stronger as competition increased, rather than fading under it.
In a year that delivered a mixed report card for Hindi cinema marked by high-profile underperformers and cautious audience sentiment, Dhurandhar’s run has offered a timely reminder. When story, craft and performance align, audiences still show up, talk about it and return. Amid shifting consumption habits and release strategies, the film’s success reinforces an old truth dressed in new numbers: a well-made film remains the most reliable recipe for box office success.
As the industry looks ahead to 2026, Dhurandhar’s Rs 1,000 crore finish does more than end the year on a high. It restores faith in the fundamentals that compelling storytelling, patiently earned buzz and audience trust can still deliver cinema’s biggest wins.
Hindi
Shekhar Suman opens acting academy in Mumbai
The veteran actor-presenter launches SSFA, promising immersive, mentorship-led training for aspiring actors and storytellers
Mumbai: Forty years in front of the camera, and Shekhar Suman still isn’t done. The actor, host, writer and director, one of Indian entertainment’s most restless polymaths, is now training his sights on the next generation, launching the Shekhar Suman Film Academy (SSFA) in Mumbai on 22nd April 2026. Registrations for the inaugural batch are already open.
SSFA pitches itself squarely against formula-driven acting schools, leading with an intensive three-month programme that Suman says he personally designed and will largely conduct himself. The curriculum blends voice and speech work, emotional access, body awareness and camera technique with the Linklater Voice Method, film language and on-set discipline, and rounds off with a student film, giving trainees their first taste of a real set.
Masterclasses with actors, casting directors and filmmakers sit alongside the core course. The academy is conceived as a platform that will eventually sprawl into screenwriting, direction, cinematography, music production and post-production: a full creative ecosystem rather than a single acting school.
“For me, this academy is not just an institution. It is a very personal way of giving back to the craft that has given me everything,” said Suman. “Over the years, acting has taught me discipline, imagination, resilience, and the importance of truth in performance. Through this academy, I hope to create something that goes beyond training and becomes a true creative journey for every student who walks in.”
Behind the scenes, the academy is backed by GBM Studios. Dharmesh Sangani, founder and visionary, is the driving force, bringing what the academy describes as “a focused approach to creating meaningful opportunities within the industry.” Adhyayan Suman, founder and director and Shekhar’s son, adds a performer’s perspective honed across acting, music and direction. Ekant Babani, partner and chief operating officer, handles strategy and operations.
Entry is deliberately low-barrier. No prior training is needed: applicants sit a basic self-audition test, shifting the focus firmly to potential rather than polish. The academy says it aims to stay accessible while delivering a premium, hands-on experience.
In a country where acting schools multiply almost as fast as OTT platforms, Suman’s personal stamp and his willingness to stand in the room and teach may be the sharpest edge SSFA has. For those ready to test that promise, the curtain is already up. Apply at shekharsumanfilmacademy.com
