‘Monday Ko Baith Jayegi’: Kunal Kohli Says Industry Expected Dhurandhar 2 to Fail

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli has revealed that Dhurandhar: The Revenge—starring Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar—faced widespread skepticism within the film industry prior to its box office success.

In a recent interview, Kohli stated that several prominent directors predicted the film would lose momentum immediately after its opening weekend. “The biggest directors I spoke to said, ‘Monday ko baith jayegi.’ Monday ko aur chal gayi,” he said, highlighting how the film instead gained strength from Monday onward.

Despite the lack of internal industry support, the film delivered a strong opening, collecting over ₹102 crore on its first day and maintaining momentum with an impressive Monday figure of ₹65 crore.

Box Office Performance Defies Predictions

Contrary to early doubts, Dhurandhar: The Revenge has emerged as a major box office force. The film has crossed ₹1,700 crore globally, with over ₹1,000 crore in domestic net collections, solidifying its status as one of the highest-grossing Indian films.

Kohli emphasized that such success proves industry backing is not essential. “Even when the industry doesn’t support a film, the film still works,” he said, adding that box office performance ultimately depends on audience response rather than insider opinions.

Comparison with Border 2 and Industry Trends

Kohli drew parallels with Border 2, directed by Anurag Singh and starring Sunny Deol. He noted that the film also faced similar skepticism but went on to earn over ₹300 crore.

“People said second week mein thoda baith gayi. It’s done ₹300 crore plus… that’s a blockbuster. End of discussion,”

Kohli remarked, reinforcing his view that industry narratives often fail to match audience reality.

Personal Experience: *Hum Tum* Faced Similar Doubts

Reflecting on his own career, Kohli recalled that his 2004 film Hum Tum—produced by Aditya Chopra and starring Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji—also lacked support from industry insiders during its preview.

He shared that Chopra had advised him against attending the preview screening, anticipating a lukewarm reaction. Kohli attended anyway and was disheartened by the response. However, the film eventually gained traction and became a commercial success.

A turning point came when filmmaker Rakesh Roshan personally called Kohli to inform him that the film was running houseful shows—an encouraging gesture Kohli still remembers.

‘Support in Bollywood Is Limited,’ Says Kohli

Kohli also addressed the broader culture within the industry, suggesting that genuine support is rare. “There’s very little ‘scratch my back.’ Because if you let someone scratch your back, they’d probably stab you in the back,” he said candidly.

He added that while a few individuals offer genuine encouragement, most industry members are either indifferent or skeptical about others’ success.

Film’s Narrative and Cast

Dhurandhar: The Revenge continues the story of Ranveer Singh’s character, charting his transformation into Hamza Ali Mazari, also known as Sher-e-Baloch. The spy-action thriller follows his mission as an undercover operative navigating cross-border conflicts.

The film features a strong ensemble cast, including R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun.