Tuesday proved to be a mixed day at the Indian box office, with most films witnessing the expected weekday slowdown after the weekend rush. While long-running releases like Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar continue to show remarkable staying power, several recent releases—including Rahu Ketu and Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos—failed to gain momentum.

Here’s a detailed look at how films performed at the box office on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Rahu Ketu sees further dip on Day 5

Starring Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma, Rahu Ketu continued its downward trend on Tuesday.

• Tuesday collection: ₹47 lakh
• Monday collection: ₹55 lakh
• Total collection: ₹5.42 crore

Despite decent initial interest, the film has struggled to sustain footfalls on weekdays. Trade experts believe that average word-of-mouth and strong competition have impacted its performance.

Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos fails to attract audiences

Produced by Aamir Khan, Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos also failed to recover after the weekend.

• Tuesday collection: ₹27 lakh
• Monday collection: ₹45 lakh
• Total collection: ₹5.07 crore

The film features Aamir Khan, Imran Khan, and Mithila Palkar, but has not resonated with audiences despite the notable cast. Analysts point to weak promotions and limited appeal as key reasons behind its underwhelming run.

Dhurandhar continues to show exceptional hold

Ranveer Singh’s blockbuster Dhurandhar remains the standout performer at the box office.

• Tuesday collection: ₹1.50 crore
• Monday collection: ₹1.40 crore
• Days in theatres: 47
• Total collection: ₹828.10 crore

Even in its seventh week, the film continues to earn more than several newer releases. Its strong hold underscores its massive audience acceptance and long-term theatrical value.

Trade insiders are already gearing up for Dhurandhar 2, which is slated for release on March 19, 2026, where it will clash with Yash’s Toxic—one of the most anticipated box office battles of the year.

The Raja Saab struggles despite star power

Prabhas’ The Raja Saab saw a sharp decline in collections on Tuesday.

• Tuesday collection: ₹73 lakh
• Monday collection: ₹1.15 crore
• Total collection: ₹141.43 crore

Despite featuring Prabhas, along with Sanjay Dutt and Zarina Wahab, the film has failed to maintain momentum. Weak word-of-mouth and declining occupancy have significantly affected its box office prospects.

Overall box office outlook

With no major releases midweek, collections are expected to remain muted until the weekend. Films with strong content like Dhurandhar are likely to continue benefiting, while newer releases may struggle to survive unless supported by strong audience feedback.

Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has addressed questions surrounding faith and identity after announcing his involvement in filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming epic Ramayana. Responding to criticism and online trolling, Rahman emphasised that art, knowledge, and storytelling transcend religious boundaries, and should be approached with openness rather than prejudice.

Rahman, who is collaborating with two-time Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer on the ambitious project, said that his connection with Indian epics dates back to his childhood and is rooted in cultural familiarity rather than religious labels.

“Art cannot be confined by religion”

Speaking in a recent conversation on the BBC Asian YouTube channel, Rahman reflected on his early exposure to Indian mythology and literature.

“I studied in a Brahmin school, and every year we had Ramayana and Mahabharata, so I know the story,” he said.

The composer highlighted that the core of the Ramayana lies in its moral values and universal ideals, not in religious exclusivity.

“The story is about how virtuous and high-principled a person is. People can debate, but I value all the good things—any good thing that you can learn,” Rahman added.

He also referenced teachings across religions that encourage seeking knowledge regardless of its source, reinforcing his belief that wisdom is universal.

‘I am Muslim, Ramayana is Hindu—but art unites us’

Addressing the controversy more directly, Rahman urged society to rise above narrow-minded thinking.

“I think we need to rise above narrow-mindedness and selfishness. When we rise above, we shine—and that is very important,” he said.
“Hans Zimmer is Jewish, I am Muslim, and Ramayana is Hindu. It is coming from India to the whole world with love.”

His statement has been widely praised for underlining India’s pluralistic cultural tradition, where artists from diverse backgrounds have long contributed to stories rooted in different faiths.

AR Rahman’s background and early life

Rahman was born in Chennai (then Madras) into a Hindu family and was originally named Dileep Kumar Rajagopala. He converted to Islam in 1989 and adopted the name AR Rahman. Despite the change in religious identity, the composer has often spoken about how Indian classical traditions, spiritual philosophies, and diverse cultural influences shaped his musical journey.

Over the decades, Rahman has composed music for films across languages, cultures, and belief systems—often blending spiritual themes with contemporary soundscapes.

About Ramayana: cast, scale, and release

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana is one of the most ambitious Indian film projects ever undertaken.

• Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama
• Sai Pallavi as Sita
• Yash as Ravana
• Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman
• Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana
• Arun Govil as King Dasharatha
• Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha

The film is planned as a two-part cinematic epic, with:

• Part 1 releasing on Diwali 2026
• Part 2 releasing on Diwali 2027

Reportedly made on a staggering budget of over ₹4,000 crore, the project aims to present the ancient epic with cutting-edge visual effects and a globally appealing musical score.

Why Rahman’s involvement matters

Rahman’s collaboration with Hans Zimmer marks a rare East–West musical partnership for an Indian mythological film, positioning Ramayana as a project with international reach. His comments have reignited conversations about artistic freedom, inclusivity, and the dangers of reducing creativity to religious identity.

By choosing to participate in Ramayana, Rahman reiterates a long-held belief:
stories belong to humanity, not to any single faith.

Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller Dhurandhar has officially rewritten Indian box-office history. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film has emerged as the highest-grossing Hindi-language film of all time, cementing its place among Indian cinema’s biggest blockbusters.

Despite entering its fifth week in theatres and witnessing an expected slowdown, Dhurandhar continues to dominate the box office both domestically and overseas. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film has amassed a staggering ₹1,222 crore worldwide, putting it within touching distance of SS Rajamouli’s RRR, which stands at approximately ₹1,230 crore globally.

Strong Hold Despite Fifth-Week Dip

Like most large-scale releases, Dhurandhar experienced a drop in collections during its fifth week. On Day 32 (fifth Monday), the film saw a 62.75% decline, earning ₹4.75 crore. However, the action thriller bounced back over the weekend, reaffirming its extraordinary theatrical run.

On Day 34 (Wednesday, January 7, 2026), Dhurandhar collected ₹4.25 crore, registering an overall Hindi occupancy of 10.69%—a solid figure for a film running for over a month.

So far, the film has earned:

• ₹786 crore nett in India
• ₹1,222 crore worldwide

These numbers underline the film’s exceptional longevity and repeat audience value.

Dhurandhar Becomes Highest-Grossing Single-Language Indian Film

With its current tally, Dhurandhar has surpassed all previous Hindi-language releases to become the highest-grossing single-language Indian film ever. Its success has been driven by a mix of strong word-of-mouth, mass appeal, slick action sequences, and sustained interest in the spy-thriller genre.

The film features a powerful ensemble cast, including:

• Ranveer Singh
• Akshaye Khanna
• Arjun Rampal
• Sanjay Dutt
• R Madhavan

Each actor’s performance has been widely appreciated, contributing to the film’s broad demographic appeal.

On Track to Surpass RRR Worldwide

Dhurandhar is now poised to surpass the lifetime worldwide collection of RRR, one of Indian cinema’s biggest global successes. While RRR—starring Jr NTR and Ram Charan—finished its run at around ₹1,230 crore worldwide, Dhurandhar is less than ₹10 crore away from eclipsing that milestone.

Trade analysts expect Dhurandhar to cross the RRR mark within the next few days, provided it maintains even modest daily collections.

Sequel Already Announced

Buoyed by the film’s historic success, the makers have officially announced Dhurandhar: Part 2. The sequel is scheduled for release in March 2026 and is set to clash with Yash’s much-anticipated Toxic – A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, promising a major box-office showdown.

Other Releases: Ikkis Box Office Update

Meanwhile, Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis, starring Dharmendra and Agastya Nanda, continues its theatrical run at a modest pace. On its seventh day, the film collected ₹1.15 crore, taking its total India nett collection to ₹24.25 crore.

Ikkis opened with ₹7 crore on Day 1, followed by:

• ₹3.5 crore on Day 2
• ₹4.65 crore on Day 3
• ₹5 crore on Day 5

The film witnessed its first major drop on Day 5 (Monday), earning ₹1.35 crore, before slightly improving to ₹1.6 crore on Day 6.

Final Verdict

Dhurandhar’s box-office run stands as a landmark achievement for Hindi cinema. With record-breaking domestic earnings, massive overseas traction, and a sequel already in place, the film has firmly established itself as one of the most successful Indian theatrical releases of all time.