Mumbai: After rewriting box office records in India and overseas, Aditya Dhar‘s blockbuster Dhurandhar is all set for its theatrical release in Japan on July 10, marking another significant milestone in its global journey. The makers announced the Japan release with a special video message from lead actor Ranveer Singh, who invited Japanese moviegoers to experience the action-packed entertainer on the big screen.
Japan has steadily emerged as one of the most promising overseas markets for Indian cinema over the past decade. Films from Bollywood and the South Indian film industries have built a loyal audience in the country, with several Indian blockbusters enjoying extended theatrical runs and impressive box office collections.
With Dhurandhar already becoming one of the biggest Indian films ever made in terms of worldwide collections, industry observers will be watching closely to see whether it can replicate its domestic success in the Japanese market.
Ranveer Singh shares a special message
To mark the upcoming release, Ranveer Singh recorded a special video message for audiences in Japan, expressing his excitement about bringing the film to a new international audience.
Greeting viewers warmly, the actor described Dhurandhar as an immersive cinematic experience filled with drama, action, emotions and large-scale storytelling. He invited Japanese fans to watch what he called one of India’s biggest cinematic spectacles on the big screen.
The promotional message is part of the film’s international campaign aimed at expanding its reach in overseas territories where Indian films have gained increasing popularity in recent years.
Japan has become an important market for Indian films
Indian cinema has witnessed remarkable growth in Japan, thanks to the success of several critically acclaimed and commercially successful films.
According to industry tracker Sacnilk, RRR continues to hold the distinction of being the highest-grossing Indian film in Japan. The blockbuster earned approximately ¥2.42 billion (around ₹139.79 crore), becoming the first and only Indian film to cross the ¥2 billion milestone in the country.
The phenomenal performance of RRR highlighted the growing appetite among Japanese audiences for Indian storytelling, large-scale action dramas and emotionally driven narratives.
Several other Indian films have also enjoyed successful theatrical runs in Japan over the years.
Among them are:
- Muthu starring Rajinikanth – ¥405 million (₹23.39 crore)
- Baahubali 2: The Conclusion – ¥305 million (₹17.61 crore)
- 3 Idiots – ¥170 million (₹9.81 crore)
- English Vinglish – ¥160 million (₹9.24 crore)
- The Lunchbox – ¥150 million (₹8.66 crore)
- Saaho – ¥131 million (₹7.56 crore)
- Magadheera – ¥130.1 million (₹7.51 crore)
- Enthiran (Robot) – ¥109.6 million (₹6.40 crore)
- Pushpa 2: The Rule – ¥106 million (₹6.20 crore)
These performances demonstrate the consistent popularity of Indian films among Japanese audiences across different genres.
A historic box office success
Released in India last December, Dhurandhar emerged as one of the biggest commercial successes in Indian cinema.
The film reportedly collected ₹1,307.35 crore worldwide, including ₹1,007.85 crore from the Indian market alone. Its strong theatrical run was driven by positive audience response, large-scale action sequences, patriotic themes and powerful performances from its ensemble cast.
The remarkable box office figures placed the film among the highest-grossing Indian movies of all time.
Star-studded ensemble cast
Apart from Ranveer Singh in the lead role, Dhurandhar features an impressive ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi and Sara Arjun.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film revolves around an Indian intelligence operative who undertakes a dangerous covert mission to infiltrate terror networks operating from Pakistan. Combining espionage, action, emotional drama and patriotic storytelling, the film struck a chord with audiences across multiple regions.
The production also received praise for its technical quality, large-scale action choreography and visual presentation.
Expectations high for Japan release
The Japan release represents another important step in the film’s international distribution strategy. Given Japan’s growing appreciation for Indian cinema, distributors remain optimistic about Dhurandhar‘s prospects.
Industry experts believe the film’s grand visuals, action-driven narrative and emotional storytelling could resonate with Japanese audiences, much like previous Indian blockbusters that achieved notable success in the country.
Whether Dhurandhar can challenge the exceptional benchmark set by RRR remains to be seen, but its release underscores the expanding global footprint of Indian cinema. As more Indian films secure international theatrical releases, markets such as Japan continue to play an increasingly important role in the worldwide success of Indian filmmakers and actors.
