The highly anticipated sequel Dhurandhar: The Revenge has officially hit the big screen today, March 19, 2026. However, the excitement surrounding the release has been dampened by a wave of unexpected show cancellations across India. Fans who booked tickets for the special paid previews and early morning shows have found themselves waiting outside locked cinema halls or receiving refund notifications instead of witnessing Ranveer Singh’s return as the fierce Hamza.

Sudden Cancellation of Paid Previews

The trouble began during the scheduled paid previews on Wednesday evening. While the makers planned to give fans an early look at the espionage thriller, several theaters in major cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad had to scrap their slots. In Mumbai, iconic single screen theaters like Gaiety and Galaxy reportedly cancelled their 5:15 PM shows, leaving hundreds of fans stranded.

The situation was even more severe in South India. Multiplex chains in Tamil Nadu and Telangana issued official apologies on social media, stating that the Tamil and Telugu versions of the film could not be screened as planned. For many, the long awaited cinematic experience turned into a logistical nightmare.

Technical Glitches and Content Delivery Issues

The primary reason behind these widespread cancellations is a delay in the delivery of digital content. Reports suggest that the final Digital Cinema Package (DCP) and the Key Delivery Message (KDM), which are essential for theaters to play the movie, did not reach several exhibitors in time.

While the Hindi version eventually started rolling, the regional dubbed versions faced the brunt of the technical failure. In states like Karnataka and Kerala, the Kannada and Malayalam prints were delayed due to post production hurdles and the non availability of language specific files. Director Aditya Dhar took to social media to address the chaos, explaining that the team was working tirelessly to resolve these “unforeseen technical difficulties” and ensuring that dubbed shows would commence as soon as possible.

Impact on the Box Office and Advance Bookings

Despite these hiccups, the box office potential for Dhurandhar 2 remains massive. The film had already generated over 40 crore in advance bookings before the first show even started. However, the cancellation of premiere shows has undoubtedly affected the opening day momentum.

Industry experts believe that while the initial confusion might cause a slight dip in the first day collections, the festive weekend involving Eid and Gudi Padwa will help the film recover. Many fans who missed the previews have already rescheduled their tickets for the coming days, proving that the craze for the franchise is still very much alive.

What Should Ticket Holders Do?

If you had booked a ticket for a cancelled show, most theater chains like PVR Inox and AGS Cinemas are initiating automatic refunds. For those who still wish to see the film immediately, some theaters are offering the option to watch the original Hindi version with subtitles instead of the regional dub.

It is recommended to check the status of your show on ticketing apps like BookMyShow before heading to the cinema. With the production team now confirming that most technical issues are resolved, the wider release is expected to stabilize over the weekend.