Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller Dhurandhar continues to rewrite Bollywood history, significantly outperforming the New Year’s debut of Agastya Nanda’s war biopic Ikkis despite being in its fourth week of release.

Data from the first week of 2026 shows a rare box office phenomenon where a month-old blockbuster earned nearly double the opening-day figures of a major new holiday release.

The New Year’s Clash

On Jan. 1, Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan and featuring the final performance of the late veteran actor Dharmendra, opened to a respectable ₹7.28 crore ($875,000) at the domestic box office. However, Dhurandhar, which premiered on Dec. 5, 2025, collected ₹15.75 crore ($1.9 million) on that same day, marking its 28th consecutive day of double-digit earnings.

Trade analysts noted that the "Dhurandhar wave" remains the dominant force in Indian cinema. The film has now amassed a domestic total of ₹747.75 crore, making it the highest-grossing Hindi film in history, surpassing previous records held by Jawan and Pathaan.

Screen Dynamics

The two films shared a complex distribution strategy orchestrated by Jio Studios, which backed both projects.

  • Show Allocation: To accommodate the release of Ikkis, Dhurandhar saw its screen count reduced by nearly 40%.
  • Theatre Occupancy: Despite the reduction, Dhurandhar maintained a morning occupancy of 14.3% on Jan. 1, slightly higher than the 12.1% recorded for Ikkis.
  • Global Footprint: Globally, Dhurandhar has breached the ₹1,160 crore ($140 million) mark, while Ikkis has reached a worldwide gross of approximately ₹12.50 crore in its first two days.

Critical vs Commercial Pull

While Dhurandhar dominates the commercial landscape with its high-octane espionage action, Ikkis has garnered significant critical acclaim. The biopic, based on the life of Param Vir Chakra recipient Arun Khetarpal, has been praised for Nanda’s breakout performance and the emotional weight of Dharmendra’s swan song.

"The battle isn't just about numbers," said veteran trade analyst Taran Adarsh. "It's about a historic juggernaut versus a prestige drama. Dhurandhar is a once-in-a-decade event, but Ikkis is finding its footing through strong word-of-mouth."

The Drop

Ikkis saw a 50% dip on its second day, a standard trend for working Fridays, collecting ₹3.50 crore, bringing its two-day India total to ₹10.50 crore.

Analysts predict that while Dhurandhar will continue to lead the charts through its fifth weekend, Ikkis is likely to sustain a steady run in multiplexes, bolstered by its status as a "must-watch" biographical tribute.