The March 19 mega clash may still be weeks away, but the overseas box office has already begun to choose sides. With limited pre-sales in the US quietly opening in late February, Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups have entered their first round of competition, and the early lead belongs to Dhurandhar 2.Headlined by Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy thriller sequel has earned $33,723 in US advance sales through March 1, according to Sacnilk. The film has sold 1,953 tickets in 209 screenings in 151 theaters, according to commercial data. The number of shows is expected to increase further as launch week approaches.
The first installment had become a global giant, grossing more than 1,300 million rupees worldwide and 21 million dollars in the United States and Canada alone. Filmed simultaneously with the original, the sequel was designed as a sequel months before the first film was released, a strategy that now appears to be paying off in anticipation levels.
Toxic has not yet spread on a large scale in North America
By contrast, Yash’s Toxic has started off on a much more limited note overseas. Directed by Geetu MohandasThe action drama has so far released 122 performances in 81 theaters in the United States, grossing $3,665 from 189 tickets sold for its premieres.However, trade experts say the comparison is premature. Toxic has yet to release its full slate of shows in North America, and the number of screens will likely increase significantly in the coming days.Yash’s last release, KGF: Chapter 2, had grossed just under $7 million in North America. Since then, his national appeal has only grown, adding unpredictability to the March 19 showdown.
Two stars, two genders, one date
Dhurandhar 2 continues its espionage narrative with an expanding cast that includes Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan and Sanjay Dutt among others against the backdrop of Pakistan’s Lyari.Meanwhile, Toxic promises a stylized and violent action spectacle, in which Yash reportedly plays multiple roles. The film also features Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi and Rukmini Vasanth. For now, the overseas numbers indicate a head start for Ranveer Singh. But with Indian reservations yet to open and show counts still evolving, this is just the first chapter in what promises to be a high-stakes box office showdown.
