Fewer Than 900 Viewers: ‘Dhurandhar’ Struggles in Japan

Ranveer Singh’s action thriller Dhurandhar has received a muted response in Japan, attracting fewer than 900 viewers on its opening day despite the franchise’s massive global box office success of more than ₹3,100 crore.

Released in Japan as Operation Dhurandhar on July 10 across nearly 80 screens, the film failed to feature in Japan’s daily top 25 box office rankings and did not secure a spot during its opening weekend.


According to trade reports, the film sold 449 tickets by 2 pm on its first day across 57 locations. Audience turnout remained largely unchanged through the evening, resulting in a much lower opening compared with several previous Indian releases in the Japanese market.

Industry observers pointed to the absence of a Japanese dubbed version as one possible reason behind the limited response. The film was released with Japanese subtitles only, and some viewers suggested that the lack of dubbing may have reduced accessibility for a wider audience.

The opening figures also fell below the benchmark required to enter the list of India’s top 10 opening-day releases in Japan. Dhurandhar needed around 1,300 admissions to make the ranking, while the record remains held by RRR with 8,230 opening-day admissions. Other major Indian releases such as Saaho and Kalki 2898 AD also rank among the strongest performers in the market.

The poor Japanese debut stands in contrast to the franchise’s international performance. Dhurandhar reportedly earned more than ₹1,307 crore worldwide, while its sequel Dhurandhar: The Revenge collected ₹1,813 crore globally.

With combined worldwide earnings exceeding ₹3,100 crore, the franchise remains among Indian cinema’s biggest commercial successes, even as its latest release faces challenges in expanding its audience in Japan.