Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’: Resurrecting the Bollywood Blockbuster
There’s a unique energy that only a packed cinema hall in India can generate – the cheers for a hero’s slow-motion entrance, the thunderous applause, and the anticipatory silence before a plot twist. For a time, that energy seemed to be waning. Streaming services drew audiences away, and even big-budget films struggled to ignite passion. But then came Dhurandhar in December 2025.
The spy thriller didn’t just top the box office; it shattered expectations, grossing approximately $155 million (£116.34m) worldwide and becoming one of the highest-grossing Hindi-language films ever made. This surge revitalized theaters: PVR Inox, India’s largest multiplex operator, reported a nearly 9% year-on-year increase in footfalls in the quarter ending December, largely fueled by Dhurandhar, which boosted the chain’s overall box-office collections by 13% last year.
The Sequel’s Explosive Debut
The momentum has only intensified with the release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which premiered last week to overwhelming demand. Over 1.5 million tickets were pre-sold across five languages – a testament to the frenzy few films command. The sequel is bigger, longer, and more ambitious than the original, and audiences are flocking to theaters.
Cineplexes across India are scheduling up to three dozen screenings daily, from early morning to late at night. “The sequel is creating history. It is shattering all previous records and redefining the box office. A true game changer,” says Taran Adarsh, a leading film trade analyst.
A High-Octane Blend of Espionage and Patriotism
The original Dhurandhar, clocking in at three hours and 34 minutes, delivered a potent mix of espionage, gang warfare, and patriotic fervor. Anchored by Ranveer Singh’s charismatic portrayal of a spy on a perilous mission in Karachi, director Aditya Dhar’s film combined slick action with the complex India-Pakistan dynamic, earning praise for its pacing and sparking debate about its political undertones.
Dhurandhar: The Revenge picks up where the first film left off, delving deeper into a long-running Indian intelligence operation within Karachi’s criminal and political landscape. Shot back-to-back with the original and released just three months later, the nearly four-hour sequel features Singh alongside R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and Sara Arjun. Like its predecessor, it’s a visually stunning spectacle, blending propulsive action and raw violence with a powerful, mood-altering score.
Critical Reception and Public Response
While admired for its scale, craftsmanship, and ambition, the film’s politics and ideological stance have unsettled some viewers. It draws inspiration from real South Asian events – from Pakistan’s ‘Operation Lyari’ to India’s demonetization – weaving geopolitics into its narrative.
Early reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Viewers are calling it “paisa vasool” – a Hindi phrase meaning “you get your money’s worth.” The runtime, rather than deterring audiences, has become part of the experience. Prominent actors have amplified the hype, with Allu Arjun praising its “patriotism with swag,” Preity Zinta calling it “mind-blowing,” and veteran Anupam Kher describing it as “outstanding” and a source of national pride.
Critics have offered a more nuanced perspective, acknowledging the film’s technical achievements while questioning its intent. Some argue that the sequel relies too heavily on “volume and venom,” sacrificing narrative depth for spectacle and simplifying complex geopolitics into “black-and-white jingoism.” Others find it brimming with “more rage than it knows what to do with.”
A Cultural Flashpoint
Online discussions are equally mixed, with admiration, skepticism, and fatigue with the hype surrounding the film. Users on Reddit urge “moderate expectations,” warning that the buzz may be inflating the experience. However, even critics acknowledge Ranveer Singh’s performance and Shashwat Sachdev’s score, with one comparing the latter to a hip-hop producer rather than a traditional Bollywood composer.
The frenzy surrounding Dhurandhar extends beyond entertainment, becoming a cultural flashpoint where entertainment, politics, and public sentiment collide. Former foreign secretary Nirupama Rao cautioned about the first film’s broader impact, noting the hostility directed at critics and a shrinking tolerance for dissent in matters of national security.
Global Recognition
The film’s reach has even extended internationally. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb casually mentioned Dhurandhar while jogging with Canadian PM Mark Carney in London, and French President Emmanuel Macron capped his India visit with a video set to the film’s title track.
Taran Adarsh believes the Dhurandhar films signal the return of the big-screen Bollywood blockbuster – a form that had waned in the age of streaming. “Dhurandhar signals audiences returning to cinemas after a slump. People are buying tickets again, housefull boards are back,” he says. “It is the resurrection of the big Bollywood hit. It’s reshaping the business.”
