Dhurandhar Movie Review – A Thunderous, Patriot-Fueled Cinematic Revolution That Redefines Indian Spy Storytelling

Director/Writer: Aditya Dhar
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi
Duration: 196 minutes
Rating: 4

Dhurandhar isn’t just designed on a grand scale — it is powered by an intensity and emotional depth that strikes the viewer at every turn.Dhurandhar isn’t just designed on a grand scale — it is powered by an intensity and emotional depth that strikes the viewer at every turn.Right from the opening frame, the film refuses to walk the predictable route of a conventional thriller. Instead, it throws you straight into a world charged with political tension, psychological complexity, and the high-stakes pulse of covert warfare. Set against the haunting memories of IC-814 and the Parliament attack, the film gradually expands into a full-fledged universe where every decision is dangerous and every step is tied to the nation’s fragile security.

R. Madhavan, as IB Chief Ajay Sanyal, becomes the stabilizing force of this universe. His calm authority, strategic clarity, and moral weight hold the narrative like a spine. In direct contrast, Ranveer Singh’s Hamza brings the eruption — a character wounded by trauma yet fearlessly drawn to danger. His evolution from an impulsive, angry young man to a cold, precision-driven underworld operative becomes the film’s most compelling arc.

One of the film’s greatest strengths is its deep connection with reality. By weaving in global events like 9/11, real archival footage, and the chilling whispers of anti-India conspiracies, Dhurandhar injects an authenticity that makes your skin crawl. This is not chest-thumping nationalism; it’s a reminder that the world of intelligence operations is quiet, uncelebrated, risky — and absolutely indispensable.

The underworld segment is a film of its own.
Akshaye Khanna’s Rehman Dacoit is a masterclass in controlled menace — his icy calm, his piercing gaze, and his unnerving silence create a villain who lingers in memory.
Sanjay Dutt, as The Jinn, carries an aura of lethal experience, while Arjun Rampal’s Major Iqbal terrifies without raising his voice. Sara Arjun brings emotional clarity and warmth to a story steeped in danger, adding a human edge that the thrill thrives on.

Aditya Dhar’s command over rhythm and pacing is extraordinary. Despite its nearly 200-minute run time, the film never drags. Each scene has purpose, each beat has weight, and each twist pushes the narrative deeper into a labyrinth of power, betrayal, strategy, and survival. The second half, especially, is relentless — conspiracies tighten, loyalties shift, and Hamza’s every calculated move pulls him into a darker and more treacherous world. By the time the story sets the stage for Part Two, the stakes are not just higher — they are explosively high.

The background score is the heartbeat of this experience.
Far from overshadowing the story, the BGM elevates it — amplifying tension, emotion, and cinematic electricity. It’s one of those rare soundtracks that doesn’t accompany the film; it drives it. Easily among the best of the year, if not the decade.

Yes, the film has violence — but it’s the emotional violence that leaves the deeper mark. The true wounds lie in the characters’ moral dilemmas, their silent terrors, and the personal sacrifices they make for a country that may never know their names. The interval twist is a theatrical jolt — the kind that must be experienced in a packed cinema hall.

In terms of vision and scale, the film is exceptional. Jyoti Deshpande, Lokesh Dhar, Aditya Dhar, and the teams at B62 Studios and Jio Studios have created a world that is grand, immersive, and cinematically engrossing. Their confidence is visible in every large set piece, every risky narrative choice, and every ambitious visual beat.

Ultimately, Dhurandhar doesn’t just break genre boundaries —
it builds a new genre altogether.
A rare thriller where art, emotion, politics, and adrenaline race together at full force.

Ranveer Singh delivers one of the defining performances of his career, and Aditya Dhar cements his position as one of India’s most fearless storytellers.