Lights, Camera, Scoop: 'Dhurandhar' Scripts Box-Office History; Pankaj Tripathi Greenlights 'Perfect Family' Sequel
The Hollywood Reporter India's weekly column 'Lights, Camera, Scoop' unravels the behind-the-scenes madness of the big Bollywood machinery.
Shattering Records
Filmmaker Aditya Dhar's second feature, Dhurandhar, has pulled off a rare box-office feat. The spy-actioner has recorded the highest collection witnessed in Indian cinema on a film's second Friday, beating the mighty Pushpa 2.
Led by Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and Sanjay Dutt, the film is estimated to have earned ₹33 to 35 crore on its second Friday, comfortably above its opening-day haul of ₹28 crore. The figure surpasses Pushpa 2’s second-Friday net of approximately ₹28 crore, achieved last December.
Dhurandhar, which picked up unprecedented momentum despite not setting records on the opening day, is now on track to script newer benchmarks, including registering the highest-grossing second week of all time, estimated to be around ₹120-130 cr.
The film is expected to cross ₹300 cr domestic total by Sunday, after which the stage will be set for its sure-shot entry to the ₹500 cr club (India), and then the film could go higher and chase down records set by films like Chhaava and Kantara: A Legend Chapter-1.
An Experiment that Worked
Days before his production debut, the dramedy Perfect Family was dropped on YouTube, actor Pankaj Tripathi had told THR India that if the "experiment" works, he will put his might behind more such projects, including feature films as well as season two of the show. And now, things are on track.
Headlined by Gulshan Devaiah, Neha Dhupia, Manoj Pahwa, Seema Pahwa, and Girija Oak, among others, Perfect Family launched on YouTube under a structured pay model, with the first two episodes available for free.
Tripathi had confessed that he came on board to present the show because of its subject, but was curious to know how the series, and specifically the model of viewers unlocking the remaining episodes through a single one-time ₹59 purchase, would pan out.
"It is a risk, because the storytelling and theme of a family going to therapy is what we are confident about, but how will this pan out? The streaming space is cluttered and we are trying to do something novel with this. If it lands, I will do many more of this," Tripathi had said.
Now, the actor has confirmed that the series, backed by Ajay Rai, will return for a new season, with the cast, script, and production timelines expected to be locked in a month. Talking to MidDay, Tripathi said he was thrilled to see the audience "embrace the story and its message," and he was "happy to extend" his support for the next season as well. "We look forward to bringing an even more impactful chapter.”