Box Office Report | January 1, 2026: Dhurandhar Nears ₹750 Cr Milestone as Ikkis Opens Solidly; Avatar 3 Pushes Toward $1 Billion

The New Year holiday delivered a major boost to cinemas across India, with Ranveer Singh-led Dhurandhar tightening its grip on the box office even in its fourth week, while war biopic Ikkis registered a respectable opening. Globally, James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash continued its blockbuster run, edging closer to the coveted $1 billion mark.

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Dhurandhar Dominates New Year Collections

Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, showed no signs of fatigue on January 1. According to early trade estimates, the film collected approximately ₹15.75 crore on New Year’s Day alone, taking its India net total to around ₹739 crore.

Trade analysts noted that the film benefited from the holiday surge, posting an estimated 35% Hindi occupancy, an impressive figure for a film nearly a month into release. With the ₹750 crore domestic milestone now within touching distance, exhibitors expect the action drama to continue drawing strong footfalls through the weekend.

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Ikkis Opens Steadily Amid Stiff Competition

The day also marked the theatrical debut of Ikkis, a war biopic starring Agastya Nanda and featuring Dharmendra in what has been promoted as his final on-screen performance. Despite facing direct competition from Dhurandhar, the film opened to an estimated ₹7 crore on Day 1.

Occupancy levels in Hindi-speaking markets hovered around 32%, which trade observers described as a “decent start” given the crowded release window. Industry trackers say word-of-mouth over the weekend will be critical in determining whether Ikkis can build momentum.

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Avatar: Fire and Ash Surges Worldwide

On the international front, Avatar: Fire and Ash continued its strong run across global markets. The third chapter in James Cameron’s Avatar franchise is expected to cross $900 million worldwide by the end of January 1, according to global box office trackers.

The film has now overtaken Jurassic World: Rebirth to rank among the top five highest-grossing films of 2025 globally. In India, its cumulative collection stands at roughly ₹159.9 crore. Trade analysts predict that the film could cross $1 billion worldwide over the coming weekend, positioning it among the year’s biggest global releases.