No paid premieres for Pawan Kalyan's Ustaad Bhagat Singh? Why skipping March 18 shows could be a smart move

No paid premieres for Pawan Kalyan's Ustaad Bhagat Singh? Why skipping March 18 shows could be a smart move

• Dhurandhar 2's advance bookings surge, led by Hyderabad sales
• Ustaad Bhagath Singh may shift premieres to March 19 morning
• Dhurandhar 2's long runtime limits other film premiere slots

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The advance booking wave for Dhurandhar 2 has already begun, and the early response to the paid premieres scheduled for March 18 has been nothing short of sensational. Within hours of bookings opening, ticket sales surged across several cities, with Hyderabad currently leading in terms of the highest number of tickets sold. The excitement around Ranveer Singh and Aditya Dhar’s high-stakes espionage thriller has clearly translated into strong box-office momentum even before its official release.

Initially, there were plans to hold special premieres for Ustaad Bhagath Singh at 10 PM on March 18. However, the situation became complicated once Dhurandhar 2 scheduled its own paid premieres earlier in the evening at 5 PM on the same day. What makes the scheduling particularly tricky is the film’s reported runtime of nearly four hours.

From a practical standpoint, hosting premieres for two major films on the same evening becomes extremely challenging. A four-hour film naturally occupies a significant number of show slots across theatres. If audiences attend the 5 PM premiere of Dhurandhar 2, the show would end quite late in the evening, leaving little room for viewers to immediately attend another premiere. The long runtime also means theatres have fewer screens and slots available for additional shows that night.

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Multiplex chains are also expected to prioritise Dhurandhar 2 due to its massive advance bookings and high demand. This further reduces the possibility of arranging widespread premiere shows for Ustaad Bhagath Singh on the same evening.

Another factor being considered is the risk of unnecessary comparisons between the two films. When two high-profile releases share the same premiere window, the conversation often shifts toward direct comparisons rather than allowing each film to stand on its own merit. By avoiding that clash, the makers of Ustaad Bhagath Singh may be giving their film a clearer space to connect with audiences.

According to industry reports, distributors have advised Mythri Movie Makers to reconsider the premiere plan. The producers are now reportedly contemplating dropping the March 18 premieres and instead opting for early morning benefit shows on March 19.

Given the decent pre-release buzz surrounding Ustaad Bhagath Singh, this strategy could work in the film’s favour. If the early morning shows open to positive word of mouth, the film could still build strong momentum at the box office without having to compete directly with the massive premiere event of Dhurandhar 2.