3 min readNew DelhiMar 25, 2026 09:52 AM IST Just days before Dhurandhar released on December 5, the film was hit by a series of setbacks. Media and celebrity screenings were abruptly cancelled, as were premieres in countries like Australia and New Zealand, reportedly due to “technical issues.” The negative buzz that followed cast a shadow over the film’s box office prospects. Actor Danish Pandor, who plays Uzair Baloch (Akshaye Khanna’s younger brother) in the film, recalled how deeply it affected him. “There were just 40–50 people to watch the film on its release day,” he said, describing the moment as “heartbreaking.” The situation, however, echoed the journeys of classics like Zanjeer and Sholay, which also faced early hurdles and lukewarm starts before going on to become iconic. ‘Too much negative publicity around Dhurandhar’ Speaking to abplive.com, Danish reflected on the atmosphere leading up to the release: “It’s all about the audience. I remember the film released on Friday after the screening got cancelled on Thursday. I was completely heartbroken. I couldn’t understand what was …