Director Aditya Dhar’s latest spy-action thriller, Dhurandhar, which released today, Friday, December 5, 2025, is receiving a polarizing but intensely passionate reaction. The film is an ambitious, uncompromising epic that successfully delivers raw, brutal action and stellar performances, but its massive runtime and two-part structure are dividing audiences.
The film is set against the backdrop of major national crises in the early 2000s, blending real historic events like the IC-814 hijacking and the 26/11 attacks into its fictional storyline.
Ranveer Singh’s Roaring Comeback
The immediate critical consensus is that Ranveer Singh delivers one of the most accomplished and intense performances of his career.
- Performance: Ranveer Singh, as the undercover agent Hamza, is subdued but ready to explode, showcasing grit, power, and deep emotion. Critics note his performance is a strong statement to those who doubted his ability to carry a serious, non-traditional action role.
- The Ensemble: The film is powerfully elevated by its supporting cast. Akshaye Khanna (as the gangster Rehman) is being called the “scene-stealer,” communicating sheer menace through his eyes and commanding presence. R. Madhavan (as Intelligence Chief Ajay Sanyal) is described as terrific and restrained yet impactful, while Arjun Rampal brings a cold menace as the ISI officer Major Iqbal.
Praise for Craft and Action
Dhurandhar is lauded for its high technical standards, confirming Aditya Dhar’s status as a master of modern action cinema:
- Uncompromising Action: The action sequences, developed by international choreographers, are described as raw, brutal, and visceral, creating a believable sense of high-stakes covert operations. The film’s ‘A’ rating is justified by the violence, which is viewed as necessary to the narrative context.
- Atmosphere and Music: Production design and cinematography are top-notch, successfully immersing the audience in the world of Karachi’s terror network. The background score, composed by Shashwat Sachdev, is hailed for its genius use of silences and retro songs to build tension and propel the narrative forward.
- Unique Storytelling: The film’s chapter-style storytelling and use of on-screen text with real-life audio recordings (in a haunting sequence) are praised as unique and effective ways to structure a complex espionage saga.
The Divisive Runtime and Conclusion
The main point of contention for both critics and audiences is the film’s size:
- The Length Problem: With a staggering runtime of 3 hours and 34 minutes, many viewers felt the first half was “stretched” and that the slow-burning world-building occasionally felt dry. Critics argue that the film demands significant patience, and this length will restrict its appeal for mass audiences expecting a faster-paced thriller.
- Two-Part Saga: The film ends with a clear post-credit scene confirming that the story will conclude in Part 2 (scheduled for March 2026). While some appreciate the epic saga format, a section of the audience felt that the first part’s ending was “abrupt,” leaving the central conflict unresolved after such a lengthy investment of time.
Dhurandhar is a well-made, ambitious big-screen experience that showcases career-best work from Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna. It is a win for those who appreciate detailed, gritty espionage, but its excessive runtime and slow-burn style will divide audiences expecting a non-stop, commercial action thriller.
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