Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur’s highly anticipated action thriller, Dacoit, arrives in theaters today, April 10, 2026. Despite a heavy pan-India marketing push, early domestic trends suggest the film is struggling to find its footing against the record-breaking dominance of Dhurandhar 2.
Opening Day Predictions
While the film has shown promise in international markets, the domestic outlook remains conservative.
-
Domestic Projection: Expected to open at approximately ₹4 crore net in India.
-
Comparison: This falls short of other recent mid-budget hits like Anaganaga Oka Raju (₹5.5 crore) and Ikkis (₹7 crore).
-
Ticket Sales: The film recorded a modest 25,000 tickets sold on BookMyShow leading up to the release, a stark contrast to the massive pre-sales seen for upcoming titles like The RajaSaab.
-
Overseas Performance: A silver lining exists in North America, where paid previews and advance bookings crossed $100,000, contributing to a total worldwide advance gross of ₹6 crore.
The “Dhurandhar 2” Factor
The primary hurdle for Dacoit is the unprecedented staying power of Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller, Dhurandhar 2. Even in its fourth week, the blockbuster is projected to out-earn Dacoit’s opening day.
-
Thursday Earnings: Dhurandhar 2 pulled in ₹7 crore yesterday.
-
Global Benchmarks: The film has already surpassed ₹1,000 crore net in India and ₹1,650 crore gross worldwide, cementing its status as one of the highest-grossing Indian films in history.
-
Schedule Shifts: Dacoit had previously moved its release date from March 19 to avoid a direct clash with the Dhurandhar franchise, but the “heat” from the sequel remains the dominant force in cinemas.
About ‘Dacoit’
Directed by Shaneil Deo, the film is a gritty, bilingual (Telugu-Hindi) actioner featuring a notable cast:
-
Lead Cast: Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur, and Anurag Kashyap.
-
The Plot: Billed as a high-octane thriller, the story follows two former lovers who are forced to reunite for a series of high-stakes robberies.
Final Outlook
For Dacoit to succeed, it will rely heavily on positive word-of-mouth over the weekend to bridge the gap between its international appeal and domestic indifference. With no other major releases this week, the film has a narrow window to capitalize on Sesh’s reputation for quality thrillers, provided it can lure audiences away from the Dhurandhar juggernaut.
