Dhurandhar 2 vs Toxic: Sanjay Gupta Says Both Big Films Will Eat Into Each Other's Business

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta has weighed in on the upcoming box office clash between Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown Ups, warning that the simultaneous release could hurt both films’ commercial potential. The director said the head-to-head battle is “unfortunate” and believes audiences may struggle to support two major releases at the same time. His remarks come as March shapes up to be a high-stakes month for the box office.

Speaking in an interview with Variety India, Gupta described Dhurandhar as a “phenomenon” and said expectations from its sequel are extremely high. However, he expressed concern that the direct clash with Toxic could dilute overall earnings. Gupta noted that while he personally plans to watch both films, the market realities may prevent each project from achieving its full box office potential. He stressed that timing plays a crucial role in theatrical success.

Explaining his reasoning, Gupta said highly anticipated films releasing together tend to “eat into each other’s business.” He pointed out that a large section of Indian moviegoers does not have the financial flexibility to watch multiple big-ticket films in quick succession. According to him, many viewers cannot afford to watch two theatrical releases within a single month. As a result, even strong films may underperform relative to expectations.

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Gupta drew parallels with his own experience in 2017, when his film Kaabil, starring Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam, clashed with Raees featuring Shah Rukh Khan. He said both films might have performed better had they been released separately. The filmmaker suggested that box office clashes often limit the growth potential of otherwise strong titles.

Despite his concerns, Gupta acknowledged that both Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic are likely to perform well due to strong pre-release buzz. However, he maintained that neither film may reach its maximum commercial capacity because of the overlap. He added that the makers likely have their own strategic reasons for choosing the same release window. The March showdown is now being closely watched by trade analysts and fans alike.

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