What a shame! Fans in the Telugu states were all set for previews of the highly anticipated Aditya Dhar sequel, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge. But sadly, the rumours circulating on social media are indeed true. The Telugu premieres for the Ranveer Singh-starrer have been cancelled, and PVR INOX and other major multiplex chains have stopped regional language bookings.
What should have been a massive cinematic event across India has sadly turned into a wave of disappointment. Following the record-breaking success of the first part, which grossed over INR 1,300 crore at the box office, the sequel, with a gigantic runtime of nearly 3 hours and 49 minutes, was planned to launch first via paid previews in multiple regional languages.
In the rarest of cases, the hype for Dhurandhar 2 in South India was electric. As per online reports, more than 100,000 premiere tickets have been sold across PVR screens alone for the second chapter, with the Telugu version displaying substantial traction despite facing stiff competition from Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh.
What happened?
Well, the main culprit behind the sudden cancellation appears to be a delay in the delivery of digital content. Reportedly, the “second half” of the film’s localised content, specifically the Telugu-dubbed version, did not reach theatres in time for the scheduled Wednesday evening previews.
In the digital era of cinema, theatres rely on Digital Cinema Packages (DCPs) to screen films. If the encrypted keys or the files themselves are delayed, the projectors stay dark. For a film as massive as Dhurandhar 2, where every hour of delay translates into millions in lost revenue and thousands of disgruntled ticket-holders, this technical hiccup is a nightmare for exhibitors.
The impact was immediate. PVR INOX, one of India’s largest multiplex operators, took the proactive but painful step of stopping bookings for regional language shows.
While there seems to be no problem with the film’s Hindi version so far, the regional language markets (including Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada) have hit a massive bump.
For disappointed fans in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, and Vizag, the focus now shifts to the official release date of March 19. While the paid previews may have been a washout for the Telugu version, the sheer scale of advance bookings suggests that the film will still see a massive Day 1 once the content issues are resolved. Stay tuned for more updates.
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
