The remarkable success of ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ inspired a clever postponement of the Hindi release of ‘Project Hail Mary’. Producer Aditya Sood saw this as a golden opportunity to fan the flames of curiosity among Indian viewers, allowing global conversations to permeate the local market. Read the full article to know more details.
‘Project Hail Mary’ producer Aditya Sood has revealed how the massive success of ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ led to a strategic shift in releasing the Hollywood film in India and why, looking back, it was perhaps the smartest move the team has made.
Let’s take a look at what he has to say.
‘Project Hail Mary’ Producer Talks About Changing Release Date In India
While ‘Project Hail Mary’ opened globally on March 19, its release in India was postponed as theaters prioritized Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, directed by Aditya Dhar, which has generated huge anticipation. The Hollywood film, starring Ryan Gosling, finally opened in India on March 26. The dominant presence of the Dhurandhar sequel has also led to schedule changes for several other films, including Yash’s ‘Toxic’.Speaking about the decision, Aditya Sood told Hindustan Times, “We have a great team here in India that knows the local market. That’s why decisions are not made in Los Angeles. Obviously we knew how important Dhurandhar 2 was.”
The producer shares how the delay worked in the film’s favour
Instead of hurting the film, Aditya Sood believes the extra week might have worked in its favour. With global audiences talking about the film online, curiosity has increased among Indian viewers.
“I don’t think it’s the worst thing in the world when you see the enthusiasm that the rest of the world has,” he said.Sood also drew a thoughtful comparison between the global response and the film’s central theme. He expressed, “It’s funny because it reflects what’s in the story: the whole world is experiencing it; it’s a moment where we can all do something together. And I think that’s really powerful.”
More about the Hail Mary Project
“Project Hail Mary” initially got a very limited number of IMAX screens in India, as exhibitors continued to prioritize the record-breaking “Dhurandhar 2.”
However, a wave of fan-driven demand online led to a sharp increase in IMAX screenings, with tickets selling out quickly once more screens were included.According to reports, the film has grossed approximately US$500 million internationally within three weeks of its release. In India, it has collected around Rs 50 crore in two weeks, a strong number for an unlicensed Hollywood film.
More about “Durandar: Revenge”
Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ has become the first Indian film to cross the Rs 1,000-crore mark in India, showing why it has such a dominant release window. The film is close to collecting Rs 1,700 crore at the global box office.