Dhurandhar 2 Is Already on Netflix Overseas — Indian Fans Still Have to Wait
- Kenneth Hopkins
- 1d
- 3 min read
“Indian audiences made Dhurandhar 2 a Rs 1791 crore blockbuster. International audiences got the OTT release first. That contradiction is exactly why fans are angry.”
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
Dhurandhar: The Revenge (Raw & Undekha) quietly launched on Netflix in international territories including the US and Canada between May 14 and May 15, 2026. The international version runs 3 hours and 52 minutes and includes additional scenes not shown in the Indian theatrical release. Indian fans expecting the film to appear simultaneously on JioHotstar were surprised when the platform instead confirmed a June 4 premiere event followed by general streaming access on June 5. This created a nearly three-week delay between international and domestic OTT access. The backlash online was immediate: Indian audiences argued that the domestic market responsible for the film's historic Rs 1791 crore run was effectively being treated as a second-tier audience. VPN discussions, piracy concerns, and complaints against JioHotstar trended heavily across social media platforms through May 15.
THE INSIDER TAKE
This split is not a distribution mistake — it is the new business model for Indian mega-budget films. Netflix pays a premium for international rights because overseas markets prioritise faster streaming access and operate on higher subscription revenue per user. JioHotstar pays separately for India rights and stretches the release window to create a premium “event” experience that drives subscriptions. From a business standpoint, the arrangement maximises total OTT revenue. From a fan perspective, it feels irrational because the domestic audience that built the film's box office success is being asked to wait longer than overseas viewers. The industry understands the backlash and has clearly decided the financial upside outweighs the goodwill loss.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The Dhurandhar 2 release structure is likely the blueprint for future Indian blockbusters. Major studios now realise they can sell domestic and international streaming rights separately and engineer staggered release windows that maximise value. The long-term risk is audience fatigue: Indian consumers may begin questioning why they should support theatrical runs if overseas audiences consistently get earlier streaming access and less-censored versions.
WHAT FANS ARE MISSING
The India version will not just arrive later — it will also be shorter. Scenes removed under Indian censor board restrictions reportedly remain restored in the international Netflix cut. That means Indian audiences may never legally see the full version available overseas.
QUICK FACTS
• International OTT: Netflix (US & Canada live from May 14-15, 2026)
• India OTT: JioHotstar — June 4 premiere event, June 5 general access
• International Runtime: 3 hrs 52 min• India Version: Expected shorter due to censor restrictions
• Worldwide Box Office: Rs 1791+ crore
• Director: Aditya Dhar
FANS ALSO ASKED
Q: Why is Dhurandhar 2 on Netflix internationally but not in India?
A: Netflix owns international streaming rights while JioHotstar owns India rights, leading to different release dates and release strategies.
Q: When does Dhurandhar 2 release on JioHotstar?
A: June 4 for the premiere event and June 5 for all subscribers.
Q: Is the Netflix version different from the Indian version?
A: Yes. The international Netflix release includes additional scenes reportedly unavailable in the Indian OTT version due to censor restrictions.
Q: Why are Indian fans angry about the OTT delay?
A: Many viewers believe the domestic audience that made the film a blockbuster should not have to wait longer than overseas viewers for streaming access.