Filmmaker Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar delivered an exceptional global performance in 2025, but its overseas journey faced a major hurdle after it failed to release in several Gulf countries, significantly impacting earnings due to the Dhurandhar Middle East ban.
Gulf Markets Remained Closed For Release
In an interview with CNN-News18, the film’s distributor Parnab Kapadia revealed that Dhurandhar did not receive clearance in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Pakistan. These regions have traditionally been strong overseas markets for Indian action films, making their absence particularly noticeable.
Kapadia stated that extensive efforts were made to secure a release across these territories. However, the team ultimately respected the regulatory frameworks of each country. He also pointed out that Dhurandhar was not the first Indian film to face such restrictions, citing earlier releases like Fighter that were similarly denied certification. The Dhurandhar Middle East ban altered the film’s expected international trajectory.
Holiday Release Softened The Impact
Despite the non-release, the December holiday window worked in the film’s favour. Kapadia explained that many residents from the Middle East travel abroad during this period, especially to Europe and North America. Since Dhurandhar released in the latter half of December, travelling audiences managed to watch the film overseas.
This trend helped recover viewership that would have otherwise come from Gulf markets. According to industry observers, holiday travel played a key role in balancing the setback caused by the Dhurandhar Middle East ban.
North America Leads Overseas Performance
Even without several major markets, Dhurandhar emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film overseas in 2025. The Ranveer Singh-starrer collected $27.5 million internationally within 26 days, with North America alone contributing $17 million.
The strong overseas performance pushed the film’s worldwide collection to ₹1101 crore. Analysts believe this success highlights shifting audience patterns and the increasing importance of Western markets in sustaining overseas box office momentum after the Dhurandhar Middle East ban.
-FAQs
Q: What is the Dhurandhar Middle East ban?
A: The film did not receive release clearance in several Gulf countries, affecting its overseas rollout.
Q: How did the Dhurandhar Middle East ban affect collections?
A: The ban resulted in a significant overseas setback, estimated at around ₹90 crore.
Q: Which market supported Dhurandhar despite the ban?
A: North America emerged as the film’s strongest overseas contributor.
Q: Did the release timing help counter the Dhurandhar Middle East ban?
A: Yes, the December holiday season allowed travelling audiences to watch the film abroad.
