Despite long runtime, Ghayal Ranveer Singh makes Ghatak comeback, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal are scene-stealers, NOT FOR WEAK HEARTS

Director: Aditya Dhar

Cast: Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Sanjay Dutt and Rakesh Bedi

Duration: 3 hours 32 minutes

Where to watch: In theaters

Rating: 3.5 stars

Indian intelligence bureau chief Ajay Sanyal (R Madhavan) heads a special mission called Dhurandhar. In this mission, his presence alias Hamza Ali Mazari is sent to Pakistan to infiltrate deep into enemy territory and break the nexus between the gang and geopolitics which serves as the foothold for ISI in carrying out the attacks. How Hamza gains the trust of the ruthless overlord Rehman Dakait (Akshaye Khanna) and eliminates the threats within him is the essence of Dhurandhar.

Dhurandhar, which was released in theaters on December 5, is an important film not only in terms of box office but also for its hero Ranveer Singh. This film marks Singh’s comeback as a leading man after 2022’s flop Cirkus. He appeared in a long role in Singham Again (2024), which is of course not considered his film. Writer-director Aditya Dhar (Uri: The Surgical Strike, Article 370) is making his second directorial, another spy-on-espionage action drama, and this time he decides to go the brutal route in the genre. First, Dhurandhar puts Ranveer Singh back on the map. The Ghayal actor makes a comeback to Ghatak in an over-the-top, overlong but riveting and heart-wrenching film.

The story spans ten years, starting in 1999. Aditya has apparently incorporated real-life tragic events into the narrative. The film begins with Kandhar’s kidnapping in 1999; Ajay Sanyal (adapted from Ajit Doval) negotiates with Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists to rescue 160 hostages. Then the tragic Parliament attack in 2002 left India horrified and hurt. Ajay forces the government to approve his mission Dhurandhar to give a befitting response to ISI. Hamza enters Pakistan via Afghanistan and soon joins Rehman Dakait’s gang. Over the years, Hamza has made some mistakes, like giving an AK-47 to Ajmal Kasab, who fired him during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. However, Hamza successfully creates a huge gap in the gang, shaking the ISI to its foundations and setting the stage for the second part.

(Spoilers ahead) The film is divided into two parts and the second part will be released in March 2026. Ranveer is not playing Major Mohit Sharma.

Talking about the performance, Ranveer Singh is making a solid comeback. He owns every frame. In contrast to her fiery, over-energetic personality, she downplays her emotions and gives a subtle, controlled performance, especially in the first half where she should be playing poorly. In the second half, he unleashes his anger and delivers his best moments. Among the talented ensemble, Akshaye Khanna stands out. He’s a believably evil, ruthless, cold-hearted bastard who shows no mercy. Arjun Rampal also lends tremendous support to the film. He and Khanna deliver some of the most brutal moments in the film. Sanjay Dutt and R Madhavan are not bad for their limited character scope and screen time. Debutant Sara Arjun is showing good potential. Despite the age difference, she displays great confidence in romantic moments with Singh. Rakesh Bedi is making his mark as a shrewd politician.

Now let’s write down the shortcomings. Dhurandhar could have been the best movie of 2025, but it was let down by a long narrative. The 10-year story is divided into eight chapters, as a result your patience is tested and sometimes you have difficulty concentrating. Dhurandhar Part One is mostly world-building with the introduction of too many characters that may leave you overwhelmed. You will have to be very careful to know the connections. Unfortunately, the songs spoil your mood. Removing 2-3 songs could have shortened the movie by 10-12 minutes. It takes a very long time to reach climax and you may feel restless until then. Action and violence is a plus point, but for someone who doesn’t like too much gore and blood, this is the second biggest drawback. Dhurandhar is definitely not for the faint of heart, of course.

Overall, Dhurandhar is enjoyable and will do well at the box office. Watch patiently. Watch this movie from Hamza’s point of view; You will be immersed in his journey against the enemies in his own land.