With Dhurandhar, April 27 -- The Revenge crossing the Rs.1,000 crore mark at the domestic box office-becoming the first Hindi film to do so-industry watchers believe India's theatrical potential could stretch to Rs.1,200-1,500 crore for the right film.

But unlocking that ceiling is far from easy.

Films remain constrained by limited and uneven screen penetration across smaller towns, high ticket pricing that curbs footfalls, and intense competition that shortens exclusive theatrical runs. Add to that the shortage of consistently mass-appealing commercial entertainers, and record-breaking numbers become rare events rather than the norm.

"The success of the Dhurandhar franchise clearly highlights the headroom in India's theatrical market ...