Dhurandhar Mania vs. Project Hail Mary: Why Ryan Gosling’s Sci-Fi Epic is Struggling for Screens in India
The Indian box office has officially entered a state of
"Dhurandhar Mania." As Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller, Dhurandhar:The Revenge, shatters global records, it has inadvertently created a
massive hurdle for one of Hollywood’s most anticipated releases of the year:
Ryan Gosling’s Project Hail Mary. Despite its status as a global sci-fi
masterpiece, the film is finding it nearly impossible to secure premium screen
real estate in the Indian market.
The ₹1,000 Crore Juggernaut
The primary reason for this theatrical squeeze is the
unprecedented success of Dhurandhar 2. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film
has officially crossed the ₹1,000 crore mark worldwide today, achieving
this feat in just seven days. It now shares the record with Pushpa 2: The
Rule as the fastest Indian film to hit the four-figure milestone. With
domestic net collections already exceeding ₹623 crore, theater owners are
understandably hesitant to part with screens that are currently running at
near-100% capacity.
The IMAX Crisis for Project Hail Mary
For fans of Andy Weir’s space odyssey, the news is
particularly disappointing. Project Hail Mary was specifically "Filmed
for IMAX," designed to be experienced on the largest screens possible.
However, due to the sustained demand for Dhurandhar 2, the Hollywood
epic has managed to secure only five IMAX screens across the entire
country.
Currently, the limited IMAX listings are restricted to:
- Mumbai:
2 Screens
- Pune:
2 Screens
- Kolkata:
1 Screen
Major hubs like Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, and Chennai—typically
strongholds for Hollywood sci-fi—currently have zero IMAX shows for the Ryan
Gosling starrer. Fans in Kochi and Coimbatore reported seeing shows briefly
listed on ticketing platforms like BookMyShow before they were abruptly pulled
and replaced by additional screenings of Dhurandhar 2.
A Growing "Soft Power" Shift
The directors of Project Hail Mary, Phil Lord and
Christopher Miller, recently addressed this release-date friction. In a candid
interview, they noted the shifting power dynamics of global cinema. Lord
quipped, "How dare you have your own successful film industry?"
while acknowledging that Indian films are now gaining broad cultural relevance
even in the United States.
While the India release of Project Hail Mary was
already pushed from March 20 to March 26 to avoid the initial opening
wave of Dhurandhar 2, it appears even a week’s cushion wasn't enough to
escape the shadow of the Ranveer Singh-led phenomenon.
What’s Next for Cinephiles?
As Dhurandhar 2 eyes the lifetime records of Jawan
and Dangal, Project Hail Mary faces an uphill battle to find its
audience in India. While 2D and 4DX formats are available, the lack of IMAX
availability remains a major pain point for purists. For now, the Indian box
office belongs to the "King of Lyari," and Hollywood’s space explorer
will have to wait for a gap in the storm to truly take flight.
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