Kunal Kohli Slams “Fake Collections” Amid Dhurandhar Box Office Success

New Delhi, March 25, 2026: The Indian film industry is currently witnessing a box office phenomenon with the release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, a high-octane spy thriller that has shattered records within its first week. Amidst the frenzy, veteran filmmaker Kunal Kohli, known for classics like Hum Tum and Fanaa, has made headlines by taking a sharp dig at the industry’s growing trend of inflating box office numbers.

While praising the massive success of the Ranveer Singh-starrer, Kohli didn’t hold back his thoughts on the “fake collection” culture that has plagued Bollywood in recent years.

“Fake Numbers Can’t Touch Reality”

In a viral video shared on his social media, Kunal Kohli expressed his awe at the genuine pull of Dhurandhar 2. He pointed out that while many filmmakers try to create a “hit” aura by manipulating data, the sheer scale of Dhurandhar’s success is impossible to mimic.

“Even fake collections don’t reach Rs 100 crore for the entire lifetime of a film,” Kohli remarked. “This film is doing Rs 100 crore in a single day with genuine collections. Thank you, Aditya Dhar, Ranveer Singh, and Jio Studios for showing us the real potential of Indian cinema.”

Kohli’s comments come at a time when “corporate bookings” and “inflated PR figures” are hot topics of debate. By contrasting the “fake” 100-crore lifetime benchmarks with Dhurandhar’s single-day triumphs, he highlighted the difference between manufactured hype and a true blue-chip blockbuster.

The Power of “Desi” Stories

Beyond the numbers, Kohli urged the industry to return to its roots. He credited the film’s success to its unapologetically Indian narrative, contrasting it with projects that try too hard to emulate Western tropes.

• Desi Subjects Win: Kohli emphasized that “desi” (local) stories and subjects resonate with the Indian audience like nothing else.
• The “Mard” Hero: In a statement that sparked further conversation, the director noted that the Indian audience craves a strong, masculine lead. “A Hindi film hero should be a mard (man), not some confused, lost boy. That’s what Dhurandhar is, and look at the numbers.”

Dhurandhar 2: A Box Office Juggernaut

Directed by Aditya Dhar, the sequel has become a historic milestone for Indian cinema. Released on March 19, 2026, the film features an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal.

Key Milestones:

The film follows the journey of Hamza Ali Mazari (Ranveer Singh) and is lauded for its gritty portrayal of intelligence operations, weaving in real-life historical events that have deeply connected with the viewers.

The Road Ahead

Kunal Kohli’s candid take serves as a wake-up call for the industry to focus on authentic storytelling rather than PR-driven success. As Dhurandhar: The Revenge continues its “rampage” at the ticket windows, it seems to have set a new gold standard for what “genuine” success looks like in 2026.