Mumbai: The stupendous success of multi-starrer film Dhurandhar has not only spawned a new template but also rewritten the rules of crafting and presenting spy films in Bollywood, writers, producers, distributors and exhibitors told ET.

In just 13 days since its release, the film has collected Rs 437.25 crore (India net), according to box office research firm Sacnilk, translating into an average daily collection of Rs 33.6 crore. Mounted on a budget of Rs 250–350 crore for its two parts, according to trade analysts, Dhurandhar is currently the second highest-grossing film of 2025 after Chhaava, which collected Rs 716.9 crore in India.

A key factor behind Dhurandhar’s success is its clear departure from existing Hindi spy films.

“In Bollywood, spy films have often been cheaper and tackier versions of James Bond movies. The makers of Dhurandhar have consciously avoided that path. In doing so, they have rewritten the grammar of the spy genre in Bollywood,” said writer and investigative journalist Anirudhya Mitra.

“The film is mounted extremely well. Its sound, production design and cinematography make it a far more credible spy film. It almost feels like a Pakistani film with an Indian character—something audiences have not seen before,” he added.

According to the makers, the film’s detailed storytelling has resonated strongly with audiences.

“Today’s audience rejects lazy storytelling. They appreciate rigour in narratives and depth in character development. Dhurandhar recognizes this. It stays away from the usual Hindi spy trope of romance between agents from rival countries ending in a happy-ever-after,” said Jyoti Deshpande, president – Jio Studios (Media & Content Business at Reliance Industries), one of the film’s producers.

The film’s structure has also contributed significantly to its success, distributors said.

“It is a smartly made film. While the facts may not be entirely accurate, what truly works is its structure,” said distributor and trade analyst Shaaminder Malik.

Challenges such as shrinking attention spans and the lack of authenticity in contemporary films are addressed by presenting Dhurandhar's story as a series of interlinked short films and blending truth with fiction by selectively showing characters representing real people and fictionalising real people,” Malik added.

He said Dhurandhar’s director Aditya Dhar has also interwoven gangster-genre tropes with spy elements to create a fresh universe of larger-than-life characters.

“There is also a jingoistic flavour, which, though tempered, appeals to a section of audiences. These elements have found resonance across age groups,” said Malik.

Consequently, the film’s structure has triggered polarised but intense debates on social media, further fuelling audience curiosity and theatre footfalls.

Exhibitors have even introduced midnight and post-midnight shows, indicating sustained audience interest.

Acknowledging this trend, Gautam Dutta, CEO – revenue and operations at PVR INOX, said, “Dhurandhar has thrived on strong word-of-mouth, high social media engagement around its writing, performances and music, and sustained weekday box-office traction.”