Industry Buzz: Can Ramayana Challenge Dhurandhar 2's Box Office Crown?

While Dhurandhar: The Revenge storms past the ₹1400 Crore mark worldwide, industry veterans are already looking ahead to the next potential box office behemoth. After Day 12, the film has collected approximately ₹1,044.20 crore India gross, ₹872.17 crore India net, and ₹1,394.20 crore worldwide gross. With these numbers, the film currently stands in the 4th position in the all-time worldwide gross list.

But the conversation has shifted to whether this dominance will continue into 2027. Leading exhibitors Vishek Chauhan and Akkshay Rathie believe they've identified the one film that could challenge Ranveer Singh's espionage blockbuster: Namit Malhotra's Ramayana, with Part 1 arriving during Diwali 2026 and Part 2 following on Diwali 2027.

The optimism isn't unfounded. The two films together are budgeted at approximately $500 million, making it one of the most expensive Indian productions ever. The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios in association with eight-time Oscar-winning VFX house DNEG, with Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman composing the score.

What makes Ramayana particularly intriguing is its casting strategy. The film's ensemble cast is anchored by Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Ravi Dubey plays Lakshmana and Sunny Deol takes on the role of Hanuman. This pan-India approach, combining Bollywood's Ranbir Kapoor with South sensation Yash, mirrors the formula that made Dhurandhar 2 a nationwide phenomenon.

However, Chauhan cautioned that execution will be everything. Handling mythological content requires delicate balance: any misstep could alienate audiences. If done right, though, the emotional connect with Indian audiences could be unprecedented. Some trade analysts are even discussing a potential ₹3000 crore milestone if the film resonates deeply.

The timing couldn't be more strategic either. The first installment of Ramayana is scheduled to hit theatres on Diwali 2026, giving it the perfect festive release window that has historically favoured big-budget spectacles.

For now, Dhurandhar 2 continues its victory lap, becoming the first Bollywood release to cross the Rs 920 Crore Hindi net mark. But with Ramayana's massive scale and emotional pull, 2026's Diwali could witness the ultimate box office showdown.