The weekend box office witnessed contrasting performances as big-ticket releases battled it out for audience attention. Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna’s Dhurandhar continued its dominant run, registering its biggest single-day collection so far. Meanwhile, Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Akhanda 2 opened on a solid note after multiple delays, while Kapil Sharma’s Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2 maintained a slow but steady pace.

Dhurandhar records biggest Sunday haul

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar showed exceptional growth on its second Sunday. After opening with Rs 28 crore on Day 1, the film benefitted from strong word of mouth, powerful performances, and high repeat value. On Day 10, the film raked in a massive Rs 59 crore (net)—its highest single-day collection so far.

With an impressive 76.84% overall Hindi occupancy, the action thriller’s total India net collection now stands at Rs 351.75 crore. Trade experts predict that the film is firmly on track to cross the Rs 500 crore milestone, placing it among the biggest blockbusters of the year.

Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2 shows gradual growth

Kapil Sharma’s comedy sequel Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2 has struggled to gain momentum amid stiff competition. The film opened at Rs 1.85 crore, followed by Rs 2.50 crore on Day 2. On Sunday, it recorded its highest daily collection of Rs 2.85 crore.

After three days, the film’s total collection stands at Rs 7.20 crore. While the growth is modest, the makers are hoping for better weekday stability, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 centres.

Akhanda 2 opens well despite delays

Despite facing production delays and pre-release controversies, Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Akhanda 2 made a strong entry at the box office. The film earned Rs 8 crore from paid premieres, followed by a Rs 22.5 crore opening day.

The action entertainer collected Rs 15.5 crore on Day 2 and Rs 15 crore on Day 3, taking its three-day total to Rs 61 crore (net). Given Balakrishna’s massive fan base in the Telugu-speaking regions, trade analysts expect the numbers to rise further in the coming days.

Overall box office outlook

While Dhurandhar continues to dominate screens nationwide, Akhanda 2 has emerged as a strong regional performer. On the other hand, Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2 faces an uphill task to sustain its run. The coming weekdays will be crucial in determining the long-term box office trajectory of all three films.

Akshaye Khanna is enjoying a massive wave of appreciation, not just for his powerful performance in Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller Dhurandhar, but also for his striking on-screen introduction powered by the song ‘FA9LA’. The high-energy track, sung by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi, has taken the internet by storm and has now achieved a remarkable global milestone.

Within days of its official release, FA9LA has surged to the No. 1 position on Spotify’s Viral 50 Global chart, making it one of the fastest-rising Indian-film tracks internationally this year.

From theatre buzz to global streaming sensation

Ever since Dhurandhar hit theatres on December 5, audiences were captivated by Akshaye Khanna’s intense entry sequence. Social media users repeatedly discussed the background track that accompanied his introduction, with many demanding its full release. Responding to the overwhelming interest, the makers released the complete version of FA9LA on December 8.

In less than four days, the song transitioned from a cinematic highlight to a worldwide streaming phenomenon, gaining traction across continents.

‘FA9LA’ tops Spotify Viral 50 Global

Bahraini artist Flipperachi, who lends his distinctive rap vocals to the track, took to Instagram on Friday (December 12) to announce the achievement. Sharing a screenshot of Spotify’s Viral 50 Global chart, the rapper revealed that FA9LA had claimed the top spot.

Spotify’s Viral 50 Global chart tracks songs that witness rapid organic growth based on:

• Sudden spikes in streams
• Playlist additions
• Social media shares
• Global listener engagement

The song’s multilingual appeal, Middle Eastern rap influence, and cinematic intensity have helped it resonate with international audiences far beyond India.

Akshaye Khanna’s creative touch adds authenticity

One of the most talked-about aspects of FA9LA is Akshaye Khanna’s screen presence. Dressed in a sharp black suit and sunglasses, the actor exudes quiet menace and swagger. Interestingly, the choreography for the song wasn’t entirely pre-designed.

In an interview, the film’s choreographer revealed that while the sequence was initially planned as a simple entry shot, Akshaye Khanna personally improvised the movement and body language, giving the scene its now-iconic understated style. This creative input has been widely praised for enhancing the character’s mystique.

About Akshaye Khanna’s role in Dhurandhar

In Dhurandhar, Akshaye Khanna essays the role of Rehman Dakait, a character that plays a pivotal part in the narrative. His performance has been described by critics and fans alike as restrained yet commanding, adding significant weight to the film’s storyline.

The film also stars Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, and Sara Arjun, making it one of the most star-studded spy thrillers of the year.

A rare crossover success

The success of FA9LA marks a rare moment where an Indian film track—rooted in regional rap influences—has topped global viral charts. Industry insiders believe the song’s rise highlights the growing appetite for cross-cultural collaborations and unconventional soundscapes in mainstream cinema.

With Dhurandhar continuing its strong theatrical run and FA9LA dominating global music platforms, Akshaye Khanna’s return to the spotlight appears stronger than ever.

Sakshi Dhoni, wife of former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, delighted her followers by sharing a nostalgic carousel of photos from the early 2000s. Among the images—from 2000 to 2006—one particular picture stole the spotlight: a rare throwback with Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan, reportedly clicked during the shooting schedule of the 2006 blockbuster Krrish.

A charming throwback moment goes viral

Taking to Instagram, Sakshi posted a series of personal photographs featuring memories with her close friends and glimpses from her younger days. But it was the image featuring Hrithik Roshan that sent social media into a frenzy.

Sakshi captioned the post:
“2000 to 2006 memories !!!”

Fans quickly flooded the comments section with admiration and nostalgia, praising her for her youthful charm. Comments like “Still you look the same” and “Nothing has changed, her smile is still the same” dominated the conversation. One user excitedly pointed out, “Hrithik Roshan in the 8th slide, damnnn!”

The post has already crossed 234k+ likes, sparking warmth and curiosity about Sakshi’s early-life memories.

Hrithik Roshan applauds Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’

Meanwhile, on the work front, Hrithik Roshan made headlines of his own. The actor recently reviewed Ranveer Singh’s latest film, Dhurandhar on December 10, sharing his thoughts via Instagram stories.

Praising the film’s craft and intensity, Hrithik wrote:
“I love cinema, I love people who climb into a vortex and let the story take control… DHURANDHAR is an example of that. Loved the storytelling. It’s cinema.”

However, he also acknowledged his ideological differences with the film’s underlying politics:
“I may disagree with the politics of it… nevertheless, I learnt from this one as a student of cinema.”

His thoughtful review has sparked discussions online, reflecting both his passion for filmmaking and his candidness as an artist.