The March 19 mega clash may still be a few weeks away, but the overseas box office has already started choosing sides. With limited US pre-sales quietly beginning in late February, Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups have entered the first round of competition – and the early lead goes to Dhurandhar 2.The spy thriller sequel, starring Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar, has recorded advance sales of $33,723 in the US as of March 1, according to Sacknilk. According to trade data, the film has sold 1,953 tickets in 209 shows in 151 theatres. The number of shows is expected to increase further as the release week approaches.
The first installment had emerged as a global juggernaut, earning over Rs 1300 crore worldwide and $21 million in the US and Canada alone. The sequel, filmed simultaneously with the original, was produced as a second part a few months before the release of the first film – a strategy that now seems to be succeeding at the level of anticipation.
Poisoning is still not completely over in North America
In contrast, Yash’s Toxic has opened on a much more limited scale overseas. director Geetu MohandasThe action drama has opened 122 shows in 81 US theaters to date, and collected $3,665 from 189 tickets sold for the premiere screening.However, trade insiders say the comparison is premature. Toxic has yet to begin its full run in North America, and the number of screens is likely to increase significantly in the coming days.Yash’s last release, KGF: Chapter 2, had grossed less than $7 million in North America. Since then, his nationwide appeal has continued to grow, adding unpredictability to the March 19 demonstration.
Two stars, two styles, one date
Dhurandhar 2 Arjun Rampal, R. continues its detective story with a huge cast including. The film starring Madhavan and Sanjay Dutt among others is set in Pakistan’s Lyari.Meanwhile, Toxic promises to be a stylish, violent action spectacle, with Yash reportedly playing multiple roles. The film also stars Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi and Rukmini Vasanth. For now, overseas data indicates early gains for Ranveer Singh. But with Indian bookings not yet started and the number of shows still being developed, this is only the first chapter of what promises to be a high-stakes box office duel.