Director/Writer: Aditya Dhar, Cast: Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Duration: 196 Minutes, Rating: 4.5

Dhurandhar strikes the audience like a cyclone—untamed, relentless, and spectacularly thrilling. Aditya Dhar's latest achievement transcends mere cinema; it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a cinematic milestone of the year that shatters the norms of Indian espionage thrillers. With a blend of Indian essence and global standards, Dhar crafts a tale rich in human emotion, complexity, and vibrancy, asserting his place among the few directors capable of envisioning grand narratives while ensuring a character-centric approach.

Taking cues from the IC-814 hijacking and the 2001 Parliament attack, the film unfolds against a historic backdrop, wasting no time. Dhar expertly broadens the narrative to reveal the political upheaval that pushed the Indian intelligence community to its limits. Madhavan, portraying IB Chief Ajay Sanyal, serves as the cornerstone of the story. His performance, imbued with precision and seriousness, elicits enthusiastic reactions in every scene. The dialogues are sharp, the energy is infectious, and the immersion into this high-stakes world is so authentic that it captivates from the very first frame.

One of the film's most remarkable features is the incorporation of archival footage, including events like 9/11 and other terrorist attacks, coupled with haunting audio of plotters conspiring against India. These segments evoke a sense of patriotism without veering into jingoism, reminding viewers of the stakes while showcasing India’s strategic resilience. It serves as a cinematic call to awareness and bravery, making the narrative even more gripping.

Ranveer Singh arguably delivers his most outstanding performance to date—raw, gritty, charismatic, and explosively powerful. Hamza is portrayed as hurt, furious, unpredictable, yet irresistibly charming. His transformation from a rage-fueled youth to a calculated underworld operative is executed with extraordinary emotional depth. Ranveer doesn’t merely act; he literally “explodes” on screen, especially in the latter half, becoming almost synonymous with the storyline—an absolute 10/10 hardcore action avatar.

The supporting cast matches this energy brilliantly. Akshaye Khanna, as Rehman Dakait, is both eerie and captivating—a villain whose expressions and timing render him unforgettable. Sanjay Dutt delivers a powerhouse performance as SP Chaudhary Aslam, “The Jinn,” infusing raw toughness into each frame. Arjun Rampal’s Major Iqbal commands attention with his quiet menace, while Sara Arjun impresses in her star-studded debut. Every actor immerses themselves fully into their roles, creating a dangerously immersive atmosphere.

The film’s pacing is unrelenting, thanks to Aditya Dhar’s expertise in managing rhythm. Notably, despite its 214-minute runtime, the length never feels tedious. Every scene is intentional, every beat impeccable, making the infiltration plan genuinely nerve-wracking. The background music is another standout feature—the score maintains the energy, ensuring the audience never experiences a dull moment. The soundtrack is one of the film's strongest assets, potentially the album of the year or even the decade, transforming tension, discovery, and climax into cinematic thunder.

Violence is judiciously used—only three scenes are truly graphic, each dramatically justified. The actual intensity derives from emotional stakes, character arcs, and political intrigue. The first half showcases masterful world-building, with the interval delivering pure goosebumps and elevating audience anticipation. After the interval, conspiracies intertwine, political dynamics shift, and Hamza solidifies the mafia core through strategy, betrayal, and even a calculated marriage, setting the stage for an explosive Part Two arriving Eid 2026.

Jyoti Deshpande, Lokesh Dhar, and Aditya Dhar, supported by B62 Studios and Jio Studios, spare no effort in constructing a universe that is expansive, authentic, and cinematically rich. Their unwavering commitment to grand sets, intense action, bold storytelling, and a stellar ensemble cast shines in every frame, elevating Indian genre cinema to unprecedented heights.

Dhurandhar is a genre-defining spectacle that fuses ferocious execution, meticulous craftsmanship, and unforgettable impact. With Aditya Dhar’s finest direction and Ranveer Singh’s career-best performance, it solidifies its position as one of the boldest, most compelling thrillers of the year. The game is set, the pieces are in motion, and anticipation for Part Two is fervent—entirely justified by the high stakes, breathtaking performances, and mind-blowing storytelling.