Kamal Haasan Slams Box Office Obsession Amid Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic Buzz: ‘The System of Judging Films Has Changed’

The growing hype around Dhurandhar: The Revenge or (Dhurandhar 2) and Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups has sparked massive discussions among fans, especially regarding their potential box office battle. However, legendary actor Kamal Haasan recently voiced his concern over the film industry’s increasing focus on box office numbers rather than artistic value.

The veteran actor shared his thoughts during a leadership conference in Tamil Nadu, where he criticised how the success of movies is increasingly judged by collections instead of storytelling and creativity.

Kamal Haasan Questions the Industry’s Focus on Box Office Numbers

Speaking at the event, Kamal Haasan expressed disappointment over the modern evaluation system in cinema. According to him, filmmakers are now measured by the revenue their films generate rather than the quality of their work.

He explained that earlier, artists were judged by their craft and the impact of their storytelling. But today, the conversation revolves mostly around how many crores a film earns at the box office.

Haasan added that while he has already established his identity in cinema, the industry’s “marking system” has changed significantly. In his view, audiences and critics now focus more on financial results than on the creative merit of films.

Art vs Commerce: Haasan Shares His Perspective

The actor emphasised that his personal goal has always been to pursue artistic excellence rather than financial milestones. He believes cinema should challenge audiences intellectually and emotionally.

According to Haasan, the true purpose of art is to question perspectives, provoke thought, and create meaningful experiences for viewers rather than simply generating record-breaking earnings.

Dhurandhar 2 vs Toxic Clash That Fans Were Waiting For

Much of the recent conversation about box office numbers started when Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Yash’s Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups were initially scheduled to release on the same date.

Both films were expected to arrive in theatres on March 19, 2026, which created huge anticipation among moviegoers eager to see a major box office showdown.

However, the scenario changed when the makers of Toxic officially postponed the film’s release.

Why Toxic Was Postponed

On March 4, Yash shared an official statement from the production team confirming that Toxic would no longer release in March.

The film is now scheduled to arrive in cinemas worldwide on June 4, 2026. The makers explained that the decision was taken due to ongoing uncertainty in certain international regions, particularly the Middle East, which could affect the film’s global reach.

They emphasised that the movie was designed as a global cinematic project and the team wanted to ensure it reaches audiences worldwide in the best possible conditions.

About Dhurandhar 2

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar: The Revenge is an espionage thriller starring Ranveer Singh in the lead role. The film continues the story of undercover operative Hamza Ali Mazari, who infiltrates Pakistan’s criminal underworld in order to dismantle a powerful intelligence network.

The highly anticipated sequel is scheduled to release in theatres on March 19, 2026.