Ranveer Singh Dhurandhar

Key Takeaways

Ranveer Singh’s raw spy thriller Dhurandhar 2 is breaking box office records, yet major Bollywood stars and even his wife Deepika Padukone haven’t publicly reacted to the success.
Top South Indian actors and directors, including Rajinikanth, SS Rajamouli, and Allu Arjun, have openly praised the film, its lead actor, and director Aditya Dhar.
Industry insiders suggest the silence from Bollywood stems from internal trade equations, as the standalone film outperforms established spy franchises.

Ranveer Singh is currently riding high on the biggest blockbuster of his career with Dhurandhar, a film that is busy rewriting box office records. Yet, a look at social media reveals a strange quiet. The biggest names in Bollywood seem to have lost their voice, sparking a massive debate online about why Ranveer’s own industry is giving the film the cold shoulder.

Heavyweights like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Shahid Kapoor have stayed completely silent. Even more surprising for fans is that Ranveer’s wife, Deepika Padukone, hasn’t posted a public reaction to the movie’s massive success.

South Stars Step Up

While Mumbai stays quiet, the reaction down South has been the exact opposite. India’s biggest superstar, Rajinikanth, watched the film and quickly gave director Aditya Dhar the ultimate compliment, calling him the “Box Office Ka Baap.”

At the same time, the top tier of Tollywood didn’t hold back. SS Rajamouli, Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, Ram Charan, and Jr NTR all flooded social media with praise for Ranveer’s acting and the film’s gripping content. This stark contrast immediately raised the question: why is the Hindi film industry holding back while Telugu stars own the moment?

To understand the silence, you have to look at the current industry equations. Dhurandhar films are gritty, raw standalone spy thrillers. Bollywood already relies heavily on massive, established spy franchises. Seeing a standalone project arrive out of nowhere and shatter trade expectations might have caught the industry off guard. Insiders suggest that these shifting box office dynamics are exactly why big stars are hesitant to publicly celebrate the movie.

The Audience Connection

Meanwhile, the Tollywood mindset operates differently. When a movie hits the right notes, Telugu stars have a habit of stepping up to appreciate it, regardless of the language or the lead actor. We saw this exact same open-heartedness with the releases of Jawan and Animal, and now Dhurandhar 2 is getting the same treatment.

The box office numbers back this up perfectly. Audiences in the North are queuing up outside theaters and bringing in massive collections, but Telugu viewers have embraced the film like a straight, local release. Ranveer’s intense screen presence perfectly matched the mass pulse of the South. As long as a movie delivers goosebumps-inducing action and strong emotions, regional boundaries disappear.

Ultimately, the audience proved that a good film has no language barrier. But when it comes to openly cheering for another actor’s massive success, Dhurandhar 2 just proved once again that South Indian stars are quick to share the spotlight.

Release Date : Dec 05, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5
Starring : Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun and others
Director : Aditya Dhar
Producers : Aditya Dhar, Jyoti Deshpande, Lokesh Dhar
Music Director : Shashwat Sachdev
Cinematographer : Vikash Nowlakha
Editor : Shivkumar V. Panicker
Related Links : Trailer

Ranveer Singh teamed up with Uri director Aditya Dhar for the spy action thriller Dhurandhar. Amid decent buzz and controversies, the movie hit the big screens today. Let’s see how it is.

Story:

Following a few terrorist attacks in India by Pakistan, including the 2001 Parliament attack, IB Chief Ajay Sanyal (Madhavan) plans a bold mission to destroy the enemy country by targeting its underworld. To carry out this risky operation, Sanyal recruits a person who disguises himself as Hamza Ali Mazari (Ranveer Singh). Did Hamza Ali execute the work designated to him? The answers unfold on the big screens.

Plus Points:

The majority of mainstream Bollywood films in the spy genre have taken a commercial route, with Raazi being one of the few exceptions. Dhurandhar falls into the minority that handles the genre in a realistic, grounded, and intense way, highlighting the risky lives of spies who go to any extent to safeguard the motherland.

Director Aditya Dhar deserves applause for the approach he has taken and for staying true to his vision throughout. The way he showcases Pakistan’s underworld, the fierce gang wars, and the cruelty of certain groups is impressive. One of the best things about Dhurandhar is its solid casting and strong characterizations, which add depth and keep the film from feeling like another routine spy thriller.

Both halves have plenty of moments that make the film worth the ticket price. The drama is well-built from the beginning, following the journeys of multiple characters. The action sequences are brutal, enhancing the film’s realism. There is a second part as well, and the solid ending only increases curiosity for the sequel.

Every actor delivered a phenomenal performance. The show-stealers, however, are Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna. Ranveer’s role as Hamza requires restraint, and he nails it completely. When he explodes, he sets the screen on fire with his intense action avatar. At times, Akshaye Khanna takes center stage, and Ranveer shows his security as an actor by respecting the script.

One can’t help but fall in love with Akshaye Khanna as his recent performances are turning out to be magical. While Chhaava showcased his brilliance with minimal dialogues and scenes, Dhurandhar reveals the beast within, presenting him in a far more powerful role. Akshaye Khanna’s commanding screen presence and majestic portrayal dominate every frame, making him one of the film’s biggest assets. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi, and others provide excellent support.

Minus Points:

The runtime is very lengthy, and this might not sit well with everyone. Some scenes and the marriage song in the second half, involving Ayesha Khan, could have been trimmed for more impact.

Without an iota of doubt, Dhurandhar is a sincere and well-made spy saga, but since Bollywood films have explored this genre heavily in recent times, some sections of the audience might not show interest, and this, unfortunately, acts as a hindrance.

Technical Aspects:

The soundtrack by Shashwat Sachdev is pretty good, and the background score is scintillating, elevating the electrifying moments. Vikash Nowlakha’s cinematography is solid, effectively capturing the film’s intense mood. The editing is decent, though the movie could have done with trimming a few scenes. The production design is fabulous.

Coming to director Aditya Dhar, he did an excellent job. It’s evident that he has a lot more content up his sleeve, and the way he kept the narrative engaging throughout such a lengthy runtime is no less than a big feat.

Verdict:

On the whole, Dhurandhar is a gripping spy action thriller that is both earthy and intense. The film has enough meat to keep us invested for the most part, while compellingly narrating the tale of a spy inspired by real events. Ranveer Singh plays his role with subtlety, and when the focus shifts to action, he unleashes his raw intensity. However, it is Akshaye Khanna who takes the cake with his outstanding performance. The lengthy runtime and gory scenes might not suit everyone, and the current oversupply of the genre is a major drawback. But if you enjoy realistic spy stories, this one ends up being a good watch. Recommended.

123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Dhurandhar 2 Box Office Triumph: South Stars Back Ranveer Singh While His Own Industry Refuses to Celebrate