‘I know where it was heading, absolutely loved it’
When asked about Hrithik Roshan’s comment on Dhurandhar, in which he praised the film’s craftsmanship but also said he disagreed with the film’s politics, Karan Johar said he was not bothered by any ideological issues and added: “I loved the film unashamedly, unapologetically and absolutely, extraordinarily.”
Karan Johar in Dhurandhar
Filmmaker Karan Johar has once again showered praise on Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar and said that he loves the spy drama “unashamedly, unapologetically” and is not bothered by its politics. Ranveer Singh, the high-octane thriller about secret intelligence operations set in the backdrop of the Kandahar flight hijacking, the 2001 Parliament attack and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was a huge success at the box office, grossing over Rs 1,300 billion worldwide and is still going strong in theatres. The film also sparked significant controversy online, including controversy over its theme and politics; many reviews described the film as having an “anti-Pakistan” and propagandistic tone.
Karan Johar loved the storytelling in Dhurandhar
During a chat session organized by youth organization India’s International Movement for United Nations (IIMUN), Johar was asked about his thoughts on Dhurandhar and films with political overtones. “I loved Dhurandhar unashamedly, unapologetically and absolutely phenomenally. I watched the entire three hours and thirty-four minutes with admiration because I loved the craft of the filmmaker. I loved the storytelling, I loved the way he broke it down into sections. I loved that the look was more internal and not against (anything), but to talk about politics in its own way,” he said.
Karan Johar was not bothered by Dhurandhar politics
When asked about Hrithik Roshan’s comment on the film, in which he praised the film’s craftsmanship but also said he disagreed with the film’s politics, Johar said he was not bothered by any ideological issues in the film. The Ae Dil Hai Mushkil director added, “I’m actually not offended by the politics of the film. I know where it’s going. I know some people may agree or disagree, and it has to be cinema. So when Hrithik wrote it, I completely respect that he had an idea that he put forward. I give him full authority and respect. I wasn’t offended by any ideological issue in the film. I watched it for the craft, for the cinema aspect of it, and I absolutely loved it. Aditya Dhar has a unique voice and as a strong, unique voice in Hindi cinema.” I felt it coming out.”
Dhurandhar box office and Dhurandhar 2 release date
The Aditya Dhar directorial also stars Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi and Danish Pandor. Dhurandhar, which grossed Rs 1,300 crore worldwide and Rs 875 crore in India, will be followed by Dhurandhar Part 2: The Revenge. The sequel will be released on March 19, 2026, coinciding with the festivals of Eid, Ugadi, Chaitra Navratri and Gudi Padwa. There will be a huge box office clash with Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, the gangster drama starring Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, HumaQureshi and Tara Sutaria. Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur’s Dacoit is also hitting the theaters on the same date.
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