Mumbai: Directed by Aditya Dhar—the filmmaker behind the taut, chest-thumping Uri: The Surgical Strike—Dhurandhar (meaning “The Stalwart” or “The Indomitable”) arrives as his most ambitious and polarizing project to date. Released on December 5, 2025, this Hindi-language spy action thriller is a colossal 214-minute spectacle and the first chapter in a planned multi-part saga. Love it or loathe it, Dhurandhar is impossible to ignore.
Backed by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the film has rewritten box-office history, storming past the ₹1000 crore mark in India alone and cementing its place among the highest-grossing Hindi films ever. Leading the charge is Ranveer Singh, supported by a formidable ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and memorable turns from Rakesh Bedi and Saumya Tandon.
Plot Overview (Spoiler-Light)
Loosely inspired by real geopolitical flashpoints—ranging from covert RAW operations to events reminiscent of the IC-814 Kandahar hijacking, the Parliament attack, and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks—Dhurandhar fictionalizes a long-term undercover mission deep inside enemy territory.
Ranveer Singh plays Hamza Ali Mazari, also known as Jaskirat Singh, a highly trained Indian intelligence operative embedded within Karachi’s notorious Lyari gang underworld. His mission: dismantle a lethal nexus linking Pakistani mafia syndicates, politicians, and the ISI—an ecosystem that fuels cross-border terrorism.
As Hamza claws his way up the criminal hierarchy, the film morphs from a familiar espionage thriller into a sprawling, Godfather-esque crime saga. Brutal gang wars, shifting loyalties, moral compromises, and devastating personal sacrifices define his journey. R. Madhavan’s Ajay Sanyal—India’s steely intelligence chief—anchors the mission from afar, while Akshaye Khanna’s Rehman Dakait emerges as the film’s chilling antagonist: a crime lord whose icy calm is far more terrifying than overt rage.
Structured in chapters like a procedural thriller, Dhurandhar steadily builds toward a high-stakes cliffhanger that clearly sets the stage for Part 2, slated for 2026.
Performances
Ranveer Singh delivers what is arguably a career-defining performance. Shedding his trademark flamboyance, he opts for brooding restraint and controlled ferocity. With long hair, a heavy beard, and quiet swagger, Singh commands the screen through subtlety rather than theatrics. The internal tug-of-war between duty, identity, and emotional vulnerability feels lived-in and convincing. It’s a slow-burn performance that anchors the film’s emotional weight.
Akshaye Khanna nearly steals the film as Rehman Dakait. His minimalist menace, razor-sharp dialogue delivery, and effortless authority make him one of the most compelling Hindi film villains in recent years. Sanjay Dutt brings gravitas in a pivotal role, while R. Madhavan and Arjun Rampal provide solid, dependable support. Sara Arjun is earnest and likable as the romantic interest, though her arc remains underwritten. Veteran actors like Rakesh Bedi shine in brief but impactful appearances.
Direction, Craft, and Style
Aditya Dhar doubles down on scale and grit, crafting a world that feels oppressive, dangerous, and morally murky. Karachi’s underbelly is rendered with striking visual consistency—narrow alleys drenched in blue-gray hues, perpetual twilight, and a sense of looming violence. Vikash Nowlakha’s cinematography is atmospheric and immersive, while the editing manages to sustain tension despite the daunting runtime.
Shashwat Sachdev’s background score pulses with urgency, occasionally weaving in classic Bollywood tracks for ironic contrast. The action is raw, visceral, and unflinching—torture sequences, gang executions, and shootouts push the film firmly into A-certificate territory. Often likened to “Saw-level” brutality, the violence is excessive but largely grounded, never tipping into cartoonish spectacle.
What Works
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Immersive world-building that pulls viewers deep into the Lyari underworld
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Powerhouse performances, particularly from Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna
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Ambitious scope, blending espionage, mafia politics, and nationalism
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High technical polish, from production design to sound and score
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Sustained intensity, remarkable for a film exceeding three and a half hours
Where It Falters
The runtime is the film’s biggest liability. Several sequences feel stretched, and some narrative threads exist primarily to set up future installments rather than offering payoff in Part 1. The relentless violence can feel gratuitous, leaving a deliberately uncomfortable aftertaste.
Ideologically, Dhurandhar is deeply divisive. While supporters hail it as a raw, unfiltered portrayal of terrorism and geopolitical conflict, critics argue it veers into jingoism—flirting with Islamophobia, glorifying hyper-masculinity, and softening nationalist propaganda through slick aesthetics. At times, the film seems more enamored with brutality than narrative clarity, biting off more than it can cohesively chew.
Verdict
Dhurandhar is bold, muscular, and unapologetically confrontational. It’s not subtle, it’s not gentle, and it certainly isn’t neutral—but when it lands, it lands with force. Ranveer Singh’s restrained intensity, Akshaye Khanna’s chilling villainy, and Aditya Dhar’s confident, large-scale direction make it a compelling theatrical experience for fans of hard-hitting action thrillers.
If you can stomach the length, gore, and ideological edge, Dhurandhar rewards patience with moments of genuine cinematic power—and leaves you both unsettled and eager for what comes next.
Rating: 7.5/10
A flawed yet fiercely entertaining blockbuster—ambitious, polarizing, and undeniably one of the most impactful Hindi films of 2025.
