Aditya Dhar's much-awaited film Dhurandhar: The Revenge is preparing for a grand release next week. Fan excitement is already high.
However, a recent decision linked to theatre screens has triggered debate across the film industry.
Initially, the film was expected to clash with Yash's thriller Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups. Last Wednesday, the rival film postponed its release to June 4. This move gave Dhurandhar a clear theatrical window without major competition.
Even with a free release period, a new demand from producers and distributors Jio Studios has surprised many exhibitors. The request has created tension among theatre owners and competing filmmakers planning releases during the same period.
According to an exclusive report by Bollywood Hungama, an industry insider claimed that Jio Studios made an unprecedented request. The studio reportedly asked single-screen theatres to allocate all shows to Dhurandhar for a continuous six-week period.
The insider explained that full-show demands are not unusual in the industry. However, such conditions usually last for two weeks or at most three weeks. A six-week exclusive demand is considered extremely rare.
The demand also clearly states that theatres should not share screens with other films during this period. As a result, Bhooth Bangla, scheduled to release on April 10, may not get shows if Jio Studios enforces this condition.
The situation becomes more complex with another Jio Studios release. Their upcoming historical saga Raja Shivaji is scheduled to arrive on May 1, 2026. The film stars Riteih Deshmukh and will release exactly six weeks after Dhurandhar: The Revenge.
A simple calculation suggests that starting March 19, 2026, Jio Studios could control single-screen theatres for nearly eight weeks. Such a long stretch of exclusive screen occupation is rarely seen in the cinema business.
Exhibitors have raised concerns about the impact on other films. One theatre owner said Dhurandhar: The Revenge will likely perform strongly, but Bhoot Bangla starring Akshay Kumar is arriving just three weeks later on April 10.
The exhibitor noted that the horror comedy involves major names including Priyadarshan, Ekta Kapoor, and Pen Marudhar. Theatre owners want to allot at least a few shows to the film, but the current clause may prevent that.
He also revealed that many single-screen theatres have delayed opening advance bookings for Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Some venues have already started paid previews, but the issue regarding screen allocation is still unresolved.
Another exhibitor criticised the arrangement and called it unfair for other films. According to him, the film industry depends on coexistence where multiple good films get space to perform at the box office.
The issue has also sparked reactions on social media. Many users believe that blocking competitors from theatres is not a fair practice, especially when several filmmakers and distributors depend on the same release window.
Industry observers believe the move reflects Jio Studios' attempt to dominate screen availability. However, such a strategy could affect the business prospects of nearby releases including Bhooth Bangla and Toxic.
For now, exhibitors and distributors across the country are hoping for a compromise. They expect Jio Studios to reconsider the conditions so that multiple films releasing around the same time can also earn reasonable box office collections.