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Dhurandhar movie review and ratings: Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar storms into cinemas with the confidence of a film that’s determined to shake and overwhelm its audience in equal measure. The director drapes the film with his trademark blend of muscular patriotism and explosive action, stitching together India’s most painful terror strikes into a sprawling narrative about rage, retaliation, and the politics simmering on the other side of the border.
The result is a film that’s striking, overlong, occasionally indulgent, but undeniably gripping. Scroll down to read our full review!
The story of Dhurandhar tracks India’s covert response to its most traumatic terror strikes. After the IC-814 surrender forces the government’s hand, Intelligence Bureau chief Ajay Sanyal initiates a classified operation named “Dhurandhar.” The mission hinges on an undercover “weapon,” Hamza (Ranveer Singh), later revealed as Jaskirat Singh Rangil, who infiltrates the criminal underbelly of Lyari. His entry into the world of Rehman Dakait (Akshaye Khanna), a feared Baloch gangster with political ambitions, gives him access to the ISI’s moves and Pakistan’s terror machinery.
As Hamza navigates gang wars and political betrayals, the film blends real-world tragedies with fictionalised espionage to trace the rise of India’s silent retaliation to the bruising terror attacks.
Ranveer Singh sinks into Hamza/Jaskirat with ferocity, playing him as a man sculpted by untold grief and a cold purpose. His physicality is striking, and he communicates volumes through stillness, although the film’s fixation on intense close-ups occasionally reminds you of past characters he has portrayed. Even so, he remains a compelling anchor to Dhurandhar.
But the film truly comes alive when Akshaye Khanna enters the frame. As Rehman Baloch, he is unhurried, unpredictable, and hypnotically controlled. Every twitch, every pause, every glance feels sharpened with intent. It’s one of his most magnetic performances in years and effortlessly overshadows the film’s leads.
Sanjay Dutt is perfectly cast as the devil-may-care cop Chaudhary Aslam, while Arjun Rampal’s Major Iqbal is chilling in his precision and cruelty. Rakesh Bedi surprises with a sharply funny turn, grounding the film’s heavier moments. Sara Arjun brings sincerity, though her pairing with Ranveer remains visually distracting.
Dhurandhar’s ambition becomes its burden. The relentless violence, brains blown apart, hooks piercing flesh, bodies dangling, numbs more than it shocks. Aditya Dhar wants the brutality to feel necessary, but the excess weakens the impact. And at 214 minutes, the runtime is simply unforgivable. The film drags, circles itself, and overstays its welcome.
The climax, designed to set up Part 2, arrives without urgency or emotional payoff.
Still, the background score thunders beautifully, the reimagined Karvaan lingers, and classics like Hawa Hawa add surprising texture. Dhar’s world is richly built, even if unevenly executed.
Dhurandhar is overstuffed, overlong, and occasionally overwhelming. But it’s also engaging, ambitious, and anchored by two stellar performances: Ranveer’s explosive return and Akshaye’s hypnotic brilliance. It doesn’t land every punch, yet it hits hard enough to keep you invested in whatever Part 2 promises.
Watch it for Akshaye Khanna!
Movie name: Dhurandhar
Dhurandhar director: Aditya Dhar
Dhurandhar cast: Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi
Dhurandhar verdict: Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar lands hard but stumbles under its excessive violence and indulgent runtime.
Dhurandhar ratings: 3.5/5
