Dhurandhar 2 Replaces SRK’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge At Maratha Mandir; Midnight Shows Added Amid Massive Demand

Dhurandhar 2 Release: The upcoming action thriller Dhurandhar 2 is already making headlines even before its release, setting new benchmarks in cinema exhibition. The film, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, is scheduled to hit theatres on March 19. However, its growing popularity has led to an unprecedented change at one of Mumbai’s most iconic cinemas.

For decades, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, has been screened daily at 11:30 am at Maratha Mandir. This long-standing tradition has now been altered to accommodate the release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge. From March 18, the classic film will instead be shown at 10:00 am, making space for the new release. The change has been driven largely by the sequel’s extended runtime, which is reportedly 3 hours and 55 minutes. At Maratha Mandir, Dhurandhar: The Revenge will be screened at 1:15 pm, 5:30 pm and 9:45 pm. Industry insiders note that while similar adjustments have been made in the past for long films, this marks one of the rare occasions when DDLJ’s historic slot has been shifted so significantly.

Meanwhile, the excitement surrounding the film has also led to a major shift in how cinemas are scheduling shows. Several theatres across cities like Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad have started offering late-night and even post-midnight screenings. In some cases, shows have been scheduled as early as 5:30 am and as late as 3:15 am, effectively turning film screenings into a round-the-clock affair. Cinemas such as MovieMax Sion and MovieMax Wonder Mall in Mumbai are leading this trend, with multiple early-morning shows already listed. Trade experts suggest that more theatres could adopt this 24-hour screening model as the release date approaches, especially given the overwhelming demand.

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Apart from the unusual show timings, the film is also performing strongly in advance bookings. Paid preview screenings on March 18 have already generated impressive collections, while Day 1 bookings have crossed significant figures with lakhs of tickets sold across thousands of shows nationwide. Internationally, the film is also witnessing strong interest, with overseas pre-sales contributing to a substantial global opening weekend total. Combined figures from India and abroad indicate that the film has already crossed over ₹123 crore in pre-release business.

With such strong momentum and record-breaking trends, Dhurandhar 2 is shaping up to be one of the biggest releases of the year.