Veteran actor Anupam Kher recently shared his enthusiastic review of Aditya Dhar's latest directorial venture, "Dhurandhar," a spy thriller starring Ranveer Singh. In a video posted on social media, Kher revealed his immediate reaction to Dhar after watching the film, exclaiming, "‘Mata Chadh Gayi Hai Kya?’". This translates to "Have you lost your mind?", a lighthearted expression of awe and disbelief at the film's intense and captivating nature.
Kher lauded "Dhurandhar" as "Bharat Ki Film" (a film of India), praising the performances of the entire cast, including Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, and Sanjay Dutt. He especially commended Aditya Dhar for crafting a compelling narrative around the unsung heroes of the country. Kher also mentioned his connection to the film's title, revealing that it was suggested by his late friend, Satish Kaushik, and expressed his happiness at seeing Kaushik's name in the credits.
"Dhurandhar," which hit theaters on December 5, 2025, is a spy action thriller set against the backdrop of the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2001 Parliament attack. The film revolves around Ajay Sanyal, the chief of India's Intelligence Bureau, who devises a covert operation to infiltrate and dismantle a terrorist network operating from Pakistan. Sanyal recruits a 20-year-old inmate, Hamza Ali Mazari (played by Ranveer Singh), training him to go undercover in Karachi's dangerous underworld. Hamza infiltrates terror networks by posing as a Pakistani, working his way up through the ranks of Rehman Dakait's (Akshaye Khanna) gang.
Directed and co-produced by Aditya Dhar, along with Jyoti Deshpande and Lokesh Dhar, "Dhurandhar" boasts an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sara Arjun. The film is reportedly inspired by real-life events, including Operation Lyari, a Pakistani government-led crackdown on gangs in Karachi.
The film has garnered mixed to positive reviews, with critics praising the performances, direction, cinematography, and world-building. However, some have criticized its lengthy runtime and perceived narrative inconsistencies. Some critics have pointed out the excessive violence in the movie. Deepa Gahlot noted that the movie does not have the dark realism of a web series, nor the flamboyance of an espionage movie.
"Dhurandhar" has been certified A by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), with a runtime of 214 minutes (3 hours and 34 minutes). The film is structured into eight chapters, each adding layers to the narrative. The film's music, composed by Shashwat Sachdev, has also been well-received.
Commercially, "Dhurandhar" has been performing well at the box office. After five days of release, the film has earned ₹159.40 crore domestically. The worldwide gross collection during the first weekend was ₹160.15 crore. The producers have announced that "Dhurandhar Part 2" is scheduled to release on March 19, 2026.
