Highlights:
- Last-minute technical glitches led to widespread cancellations and delays of Dhurandhar 2 preview shows across multiple regions.
- Missing or inaccessible digital film prints, especially for dubbed versions, caused major disruptions.
- Fans rushed between theaters amid confusion, with some facing delays, uncertainty, and verbal clashes with staff.
- Makers apologized, rescheduled shows, and offered refunds or Hindi screenings with subtitles.
- Despite the chaos, the film is still expected to perform strongly during the festive release window.
Fans eagerly awaiting paid preview screenings of Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, starring Ranveer Singh, were left frustrated and confused on Wednesday after multiple shows were abruptly canceled or delayed across India. The disruptions affected several regions, including Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, creating chaos at theaters and forcing audiences to scramble for alternatives.
The issues were reportedly caused by technical failures involving missing or delayed digital film prints, particularly for dubbed versions in regional languages. Many screenings scheduled earlier in the day could not proceed as planned because the required files either failed to arrive or could not be accessed due to last-minute technical problems, including missing encryption keys or passwords necessary for playback.
In Mumbai, the situation escalated into disorder as moviegoers rushed between theaters trying to catch rescheduled screenings. Some audiences reported being redirected multiple times, only to face further uncertainty upon arrival. The confusion led to verbal altercations between frustrated patrons and theater staff, who themselves had limited information about the evolving situation.
One moviegoer described traveling from Gaiety Galaxy theater to another cinema in Goregaon East after being informed that earlier shows had been canceled. Despite being told that later screenings might be available, there was no clear confirmation, leaving many unsure whether they would be able to watch the film at all. Others reported delays of 30 minutes or more even when shows were not fully canceled.
The makers of Dhurandhar 2 issued a public statement addressing the disruption and apologizing to audiences. They explained that while most Hindi-language screenings were able to proceed as scheduled from the evening onward, shows in Tamil and Telugu were rescheduled for later in the night. Meanwhile, Malayalam and Kannada versions were postponed entirely until the following morning due to unresolved technical issues.
The production team emphasized that the film was a passion project and expressed disappointment over the situation. They assured audiences that efforts were being made to resolve the issues quickly and that updated show timings would be communicated as soon as possible. Viewers whose booked shows were affected were offered refunds or the option to watch the Hindi version with subtitles instead.
Theaters also confirmed that the problem stemmed from distributors failing to deliver the proper downloadable film copies in time. Single-screen cinemas appeared to be among the hardest hit, as they often rely on timely delivery of digital content to run scheduled shows.
Despite the rocky start, Dhurandhar 2 is still expected to have a strong box office debut. The film is strategically releasing during a festive window that includes Eid, Gudi Padwa, and Ugadi, and is designed as a pan-India release with multiple language options.
However, the chaotic preview rollout has raised concerns about distribution coordination and technical preparedness for large-scale releases, especially for films aiming to cater to diverse linguistic audiences simultaneously.
