At a time when Indian cinema is drawing global attention, Dhurandhar has emerged as one of the biggest success stories of the year. The film’s massive box office numbers and strong audience response have made it a talking point not just for its scale but also for the conversations it has sparked around its storytelling choices.
Directed by Aditya Dhar and headlined by Ranveer Singh, the film is being widely watched and appreciated across countries. At the same time, a section of viewers has raised concerns about whether the narrative ends up glorifying figures linked to t*rrorism, particularly the character inspired by Rahman Dakait. Actor Naveen Kaushik, who plays Donga in the film, recently addressed these concerns by explaining the intent behind such portrayals.
According to him, the character was never designed to be celebrated but rather to build a believable world around the protagonist. He explained that since the story follows an Indian spy infiltrating dangerous criminal networks, it was important to show the kind of people and environments he had to live among to complete his mission. These characters represent the obstacles the spy must overcome, and without making them strong and convincing, the hero’s journey would feel incomplete.
Naveen Kaushik also shared that showing the darker personal sides of such characters was essential to expose their brutality and moral decay. In his view, audiences today no longer connect with exaggerated, cartoonish villains from the past. With exposure to global cinema, viewers now expect layered, grey characters who feel real, even when they are deeply flawed.
On the commercial front, Dhurandhar continues to rewrite records. The film has crossed Rs. 1000 crore at the worldwide box office and after surpassing Animal (Ranbir Kapoor-Rashmika Mandanna) and Stree 2 (Rajkummar Rao – Shraddha Kapoor), it is looking forward to leave behind Pathaan (Shah Rukh Khan – Deepika Padukone) which earned Rs. 1055 crore globally.
Set in Pakistan in the early 2000s and based on true events, Dhurandhar follows an Indian spy who infiltrates the Lyari gangs. Alongside Ranveer Singh, the film features Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi, making it one of the most talked-about ensemble films of the year.
