Ranveer Singh's action thriller Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, has made waves at the box office since its release on December 5, 2025. Featuring a star-studded cast including Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and R Madhavan, the film quickly became a talking point, lauded as one of the biggest releases of the year. While Dhurandhar has undeniably achieved remarkable commercial success, it still couldn't surpass the enduring legacy and cultural impact of the cult classic Sholay.
Dhurandhar has grossed approximately ₹1300 crore worldwide. Within three weeks of its release, the film crossed the ₹1,000 crore mark globally, with ₹668.8 crore in net collections from India and ₹206.91 crore from overseas earnings. By January 4, 2026, Dhurandhar had grossed ₹1186 crore worldwide, surpassing Sholay and Bobby to rank 16th among India's biggest hits. The film's impressive performance made it Ranveer Singh's biggest box office hit ever, even beating Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat. Dhurandhar also broke records with its explosive second week and historic overseas run, especially in North America. By its seventh week, the film had earned ₹800 crore net and approximately ₹1000 crore gross. The film has now become the 19th film with the highest footfalls in India.
Despite these achievements, Sholay, released in 1975, maintains its iconic status. While Sholay's initial reception was lukewarm, it went on to become a blockbuster, running for 50 weeks in 28 cinemas. The film's total gross revenue in India amounted to ₹350 million ($39.15 million). Box Office India estimates that Sholay sold over 100 million tickets in India. The film also achieved success in the Soviet Union, selling 48.4 million tickets during its initial run at the Soviet box office and eventually reaching 60 million tickets with re-runs.
Sholay was the highest-grossing Indian film ever until Disco Dancer (1982) and the highest-grossing film in India until Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994). It is estimated that Sholay drew a total audience of 250 million over the years. Adjusted for inflation, Sholay remains one of the highest-grossing films in Indian cinema history.
Although Dhurandhar has outperformed Sholay in terms of pure box office numbers, the latter's cultural impact and enduring appeal remain unmatched. Sholay is considered one of the greatest Indian movies ever made and is still remembered 50 years after its release. Sholay had a golden jubilee at Galaxy cinema in Rajkot, Gujarat. The film's dialogues, characters, and scenes have become ingrained in Indian popular culture, and it continues to be referenced and celebrated across generations.
Dhurandhar has undeniably carved its own path to success, drawing audiences with its action-packed narrative and stellar performances. However, Sholay's impact transcends box office figures, solidifying its place as a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences today. Dhurandhar may have soared to impressive heights, but the strong hold of Sholay on Indian cinema remains unbroken.