Arjun Rampal Thanks Gabriella Demetriades for Her Patience as Dhurandhar: The Revenge Hits Theatres Amid Screening Chaos
New Delhi, March 19: Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar: The Revenge officially released in theatres today, following paid previews that began on March 18. The film’s rollout, however, has been far from smooth, with multiple delays, cancellations, and technical glitches affecting audiences across India.
Gabriella Praises the Film, Arjun Responds
Arjun Rampal’s girlfriend, Gabriella Demetriades, took to Instagram after attending a preview, calling it her “favourite Hindi film of all time.” She praised Rampal’s dedication, writing, “@rampal72 patience, persistence and positivity, you’re always inspiring and always raising the bar. #adityadhar is a legend and @ranveersingh you’re a star. The casting is a masterpiece @castingchhabra each and every person in the film is epic. #dhurandhartherevenge.”
Rampal replied to her post, expressing gratitude for her unwavering support: “Love u so happy. Thank you for believing, supporting and the patience you had while Iqbal was being created. You deserve a medal.”
Chaotic Paid Previews and Release Day Delays
The paid previews on March 18 faced multiple cancellations and delays in cities like Mumbai and Delhi-NCR. In Mumbai, shows at Gaiety Galaxy were cancelled, prompting large crowds outside the theatre. Similarly, in Delhi-NCR, many IMAX bookings were taken offline, and cinema chains including Miraj, Movietime, Wave, Cinepolis, Moviemax, and some INOX properties cancelled evening screenings.
Technical glitches were cited as a reason, with theatres required to download the film and receive the Key Delivery Message (KDM) before screening. Elvin Marcus, manager of MovieMax Laserplex in Noida, mentioned that last-minute edits following Censor Board suggestions also contributed to delays.
Southern Market Troubles
Southern India faced additional hurdles. Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada dubbed versions of the film were not ready in time, leading to last-minute cancellations of non-Hindi shows. Theatre chains offered refunds or the option to watch the Hindi version with subtitles. Trade analyst Ramesh Bala explained, “The digital content, including visuals and sound design, is ready only for Hindi. Dubbed versions require final sound and edit corrections, causing delays.”
Director Aditya Dhar Responds
Aditya Dhar addressed the issues on X, assuring fans that most Hindi shows would run from 5 pm onwards, while Tamil and Telugu shows would begin at 9 pm. Malayalam and Kannada screenings are expected to start tomorrow morning. He added, “If the dubbed version you have tickets for is not currently playing, you will have an option for a refund or to watch the Hindi version with subtitles. We truly apologise for the inconvenience. Your love for this film means the world to us.”
Star-Studded Cast
The film stars Ranveer Singh, alongside R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi, Gaurav Gera, Danish Pandor, and Sara Arjun, promising an ensemble performance for action and drama enthusiasts.
Despite the initial hiccups, Dhurandhar: The Revenge is now showing in most major cities, and fans are eager to see the high-octane drama unfold on the big screen.
