The battle is one of "Volume vs. Longevity," with the fresh action-thriller capturing the Telugu market while the spy-epic maintains its grip on the Hindi belt.
'Dacoit' Day 1: A Strong Telugu Start
Released yesterday, Friday, April 10, 2026, 'Dacoit' has delivered a "steady and decent" opening, significantly outperforming Adivi Sesh's previous hits like HIT 2.
India Net: ₹6.50 crore (Day 1).
Worldwide Gross: ₹13.57 crore (Day 1).
The Language Split: The film's strength lies in the South, with the Telugu version contributing ₹5.60 crore (41% occupancy). The Hindi version saw a slower start, earning ₹90 lakh despite playing across more screens.
Early Day 2 Tracking: Saturday (Day 2) is showing steady momentum, with early estimates suggesting another ₹7 crore net in India, indicating positive word-of-mouth in urban centers like Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
'Dhurandhar 2' Day 23: The 4th Friday Resilience
Even in its 24th day of release, Ranveer Singh’s 'Dhurandhar 2' is proving to be a formidable opponent, earning more on its 4th Friday than the new release did on its opening day in the Hindi market.
Day 23 (Friday) Net: ₹6.70 crore.
The "India Net" Milestone: The film has officially crossed ₹1,055 crore in India net collections.
The Worldwide Total: Currently stands at ₹1,671.26 crore, with trade analysts expecting a major jump this Sunday as it eyes the ₹1,700 crore global landmark.
Comparative Snapshot: April 10, 2026
Film Day India Net (Fri) Worldwide Gross (Total) Dacoit Day 1 ₹6.50 Cr ₹13.57 Cr Dhurandhar 2 Day 23 ₹6.70 Cr ₹1,671.26 Cr
'Dacoit' Review: "Shocking Twists, Gritty Action"
The film, directed by Shaneil Deo, is being praised for its "alpha-male driven" stylised action but has received mixed reviews for its pacing:
The Highlights: Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur’s chemistry and a "genuinely shocking" climax.
The Criticisms: Anurag Kashyap’s role as a "spiritually quirky cop" has been described by some critics as "unintentionally funny," and the writing has been flagged as inconsistent in the second half.
The Target: To break even, the film needs to reach a global gross of ₹55 crore+, meaning it has already recovered roughly 25% of its target on Day 1.
Upcoming Clash: 'Bhooth Bangla' and 'Ginny Weds Sunny 2'
The current dominance of Dhurandhar 2 and the steady run of Dacoit will face their next major test on April 24, when the summer release window officially opens:
April 17: Akshay Kumar’s Bhooth Bangla (Expected to dominate the horror-comedy space).
April 24: Vikrant Massey’s Ginny Weds Sunny 2 (The final release before his announced acting break).
SantaBanta Verdict:
Adivi Sesh has once again proven he is a "minimum guarantee" star for the Telugu audience. While Dacoit might not have the "hurricane" power of Dhurandhar 2, its steady start suggests it will be a profitable venture for its producers. For Ranveer Singh, the battle is now about ego and history—can he stay in double digits this Sunday to reach ₹1,700 crore before the Akshay Kumar wave hits next week?
