The 2025 box office race has witnessed an unexpected shake-up, with Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava emerging as the biggest opening-week performer of the year, while Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar has secured a strong second position after an impressive seven-day run. Despite opening to relatively muted expectations, Dhurandhar has proven that strong content and word-of-mouth can dramatically alter box office fortunes.
Dhurandhar Delivers a Surprise Box Office Surge
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy thriller Dhurandhar hit theatres on December 5 and opened with a solid first-day collection of Rs 28 crore. What followed was a remarkable upward trajectory across the week, driven by growing audience interest and repeat viewings. By the end of its first seven days, the film amassed an impressive Rs 207.25 crore net at the Indian box office.
The film’s performance is particularly noteworthy given its modest pre-release buzz and advance bookings. Strong word-of-mouth, coupled with positive audience reactions, helped collections remain steady even on weekdays, allowing Dhurandhar to comfortably cross the Rs 200 crore mark within its opening week.
Star Power and Viral Moments Fuel Momentum
A major factor behind Dhurandhar’s sustained box office run has been its powerful ensemble cast, which includes Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, and Sara Arjun. Akshaye Khanna’s portrayal of the antagonist Rehman Dakait has received particular praise, with his viral entry sequence set to the track FA9LA dominating social media discussions.
Ranveer Singh’s intense performance, combined with the film’s gritty narrative and high-octane action, ensured that Dhurandhar remained firmly in the spotlight throughout its first week, helping it secure the second-highest opening-week collection of 2025.
Chhaava Remains Unbeaten at the Top
Holding the top position is Chhaava, Vicky Kaushal’s grand historical epic, which recorded a massive Rs 219.25 crore in its first seven days. Backed by strong anticipation, large-scale visuals, and patriotic appeal, Chhaava set the benchmark for opening-week collections this year and continues to dominate the box office charts.
Top 5 Opening Weeks of 2025 So Far
Occupying the third position is Saiyaara, which wrapped up its opening week with Rs 172.75 crore. War 2 and Housefull 5 follow in fourth and fifth places, collecting Rs 150.40 crore and Rs 127.25 crore respectively. Notably, these five films are the only releases in 2025 so far to have crossed the Rs 100 crore mark within their first seven days.
The remaining titles in the Top 10 list include Raid 2, Thamma, Sitaare Zameen Par, Sikandar, and Sky Force, each contributing to a competitive and eventful box office year.
Jay-Ho Catch-Up
The opening-week battle between Chhaava and Dhurandhar highlights a key trend of 2025: while scale and hype still matter, strong storytelling and audience connection can significantly boost a film’s theatrical journey. With Dhurandhar continuing to show steady momentum, all eyes are now on how long it can maintain its run and whether it can challenge the top spot in the weeks ahead.
