Dhurandhar Crosses ₹700 Cr: Ranveer Singh Dominates as Kartik’s Film Fails to Impress
Bollywood’s 2025 box office has delivered a tale of two extremes. On one end: Ranveer Singh’s action-packed sports drama Dhurandhar—a roaring juggernaut that has officially crossed the ₹700 crore mark in just 26 days, cementing its place among India’s highest-grossing films ever. On the other: Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday’s romantic flick Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, which sputtered to a mere ₹25.54 crore in its entire opening week .
This dramatic divergence isn’t just about numbers—it’s a mirror reflecting what today’s audiences truly value: compelling narratives, authentic performances, and cinematic ambition over formulaic fluff. So what’s behind Dhurandhar’s historic run, and why did Kartik’s latest stumble out of the gate?
Table of Contents
- Dhurandhar Box Office: A Historic Run
- ‘Tu Meri Main Tera’: The Box Office Blunder
- Why ‘Dhurandhar’ Resonated with Audiences
- What Went Wrong for Kartik Aaryan’s Latest?
- Bollywood’s New Hit Formula (Post-2023)
- Industry Reactions and Fan Response
- What Next for Ranveer and Kartik?
- Conclusion: Content Is Still King
- Sources
Dhurandhar Box Office: A Historic Run
By Day 26, Dhurandhar had amassed an estimated ₹702 crore worldwide—₹520 crore from India and ₹182 crore from overseas markets . This puts it ahead of blockbusters like Pathaan and fast-approaching Jawan territory.
What’s more impressive? Its legs. The film dropped by less than 15% in its third week—a rarity in today’s front-loaded market. Strong word-of-mouth, repeat viewings, and pan-India appeal (thanks to dubbed versions in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi) have fueled its longevity.
Directed by debutant Aditya Mohan, the film tells the gritty, fictionalized story of an underdog wrestler battling corruption in rural India—anchored by Ranveer’s career-best physical and emotional transformation.
‘Tu Meri Main Tera’: The Box Office Blunder
In stark contrast, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri (yes, that’s the full title) opened to weak occupancy and worse reviews. After six days, it managed just ₹25.54 crore net in India—with virtually no traction overseas .
Industry trackers predict a final lifetime collection of under ₹35 crore—making it one of Kartik Aaryan’s worst-performing solo leads since Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 was delayed indefinitely. The film, a light-hearted rom-com set in Goa, was criticized for recycled tropes, lackluster chemistry, and a plot described by critics as “a 2007 script with 2025 filters.”
Why ‘Dhurandhar’ Resonated with Audiences
Three key factors explain Dhurandhar’s success:
- Authenticity: The film’s raw portrayal of small-town struggle and sporting ambition struck a chord in post-pandemic India.
- Ranveer’s Commitment: Singh trained for 18 months, lost 12 kg, and learned traditional wrestling—audiences noticed the effort.
- Strategic Release: Dropping in the relatively quiet pre-Republic Day window avoided competition and maximized screen count.
As trade analyst Taran Adarsh noted, “Dhurandhar isn’t just a film—it’s a movement.”
What Went Wrong for Kartik Aaryan’s Latest?
Kartik’s film suffered from multiple missteps:
- Overused Genre: Romantic comedies are struggling unless they offer fresh perspectives (see: Zara Hatke Zara Bachke).
- Poor Marketing: The trailer felt generic, and the confusing title hurt recall value.
- Chemistry Gap: Despite past hits, Kartik-Ananya pairing lacked spark—audiences called it “forced.”
Worse, it released just two weeks after Dhurandhar, drawing unfavorable comparisons in both scale and substance.
Bollywood’s New Hit Formula (Post-2023)
Since the success of Pathaan and Animal, audiences have shown a clear preference for:
- High-stakes storytelling with emotional depth
- Physically transformative performances
- Socially relevant themes wrapped in entertainment
Fluffy, conflict-light romances—once Bollywood’s bread and butter—are now box office liabilities unless backed by strong writing or star power. As [Film Companion](https://www.filmcompanion.in/) observes, “The era of ‘hero-heroine meet-cute’ as a standalone plot is over.”
Industry Reactions and Fan Response
Ranveer’s peers have lauded Dhurandhar as “a turning point for performance-driven blockbusters.” Fans flooded social media with #Dhurandhar700Crore, sharing clips of Singh’s intense training regimen and courtroom climax.
Meanwhile, memes about Kartik’s film title (“Tu Meri Main Tera… wait, what?”) went viral, overshadowing promotional efforts. Even loyal fans admitted: “It felt like a streaming movie, not a theatrical experience.”
What Next for Ranveer and Kartik?
For Ranveer, Dhurandhar’s success opens doors to more grounded, high-impact roles—rumors suggest a biopic on Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar is in talks.
Kartik, however, may need to recalibrate. His next—Sajan Chale Sasural 2, a sequel—has been delayed. Insiders say he’s now eyeing a gritty social drama to rebuild credibility [[INTERNAL_LINK:kartik-aaryan-career-2025]].
Conclusion: Content Is Still King
The parallel journeys of Dhurandhar and Tu Meri Main Tera prove one timeless truth: in today’s discerning market, star power alone can’t guarantee success. Audiences reward authenticity, effort, and emotional truth—qualities Ranveer Singh delivered in spades. As the dust settles on this box office week, one message is clear: Bollywood’s new golden rule is simple—respect the audience, and they’ll reward you.