Well, the wait is finally over. After two long years, Ranveer Singh is back on the big screen, and it looks like he’s here to make some serious noise. His latest film, Dhurandhar, directed by the man behind the blockbuster Uri: The Surgical Strike, Aditya Dhar, has just hit theatres today, December 5th. The buzz has been absolutely electric, fueled by a killer trailer and a star-studded cast that has everyone talking.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Ranveer Singh's grand comeback after a two-year wait, marking his 15th year in the industry.
- ✓ A massive ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal.
- ✓ The film has an epic runtime of 3 hours, 34 minutes, and 1 second, making it the longest Bollywood release in 17 years.
- ✓ Strong advance bookings with 225,000 tickets sold, aiming for an opening day collection of over Rs 15-20 crore.
- ✓ Early reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with fans calling it a "powerful action-packed theatrical" experience.
A Star-Powered Spy Thriller
Let's just take a moment to appreciate the lineup here. Alongside Ranveer, we've got heavyweights like Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. Add Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi to the mix, and you’ve got an ensemble that promises some serious acting chops. The makers have been incredibly smart, keeping the plot tightly under wraps to make sure we all get the full experience in the cinema.
What we do know from the promos is that this spy-actioner seems to draw inspiration from real-life geopolitical events and covert operations. There's a particular mention of Operation Lyari, which was a government-led effort to crack down on crime syndicates in Karachi, Pakistan. This hints at a gritty, high-stakes narrative that’s grounded in reality, which is exactly what Aditya Dhar is known for.
Even the soundtrack is making waves. Composed by Shashwat Sachdev with lyrics from the legendary Irshad Kamil, the music is already topping the charts. The title track is actually a remake of the 1995 song 'Na Dil De Pardesi Nu', and another hit, 'Ishq Jalakar (Karvaan)', is a fresh take on a classic qawwali. It's clear that every detail of this film has been crafted to create an unforgettable experience.
The Controversy That Nearly Derailed the Mission
Now, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. Before its release, Dhurandhar found itself in some pretty hot water. Rumors were flying that the film was a biopic based on the life of the late Army hero, Major Mohit Sharma, who was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra. This led to legal trouble when the Major's family claimed the film was based on his life without their consent and sought a stay on its release.
His elder brother, Madhur Sharma, explained that the family just wanted clarity. They needed to know if the film would honor his legacy or not. The Delhi High Court then directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to re-examine the film, taking the family's concerns into account. This put a huge question mark over the December 5 release.
After a review on Tuesday, December 2, the CBFC gave the film the green light, confirming it is indeed a work of fiction with no biographical connection to Major Mohit Sharma. With that hurdle cleared, the film was assigned an 'A' certificate and its final runtime was revealed: a jaw-dropping three hours, thirty-four minutes, and one second. That makes it the longest Bollywood film in 17 years! Some fans on X expressed a mix of excitement and concern over the lengthy runtime.
Early Buzz and Box Office Thunder
So, with the legal drama behind them, how is the film actually being received? The early signs are incredibly promising. The advance bookings have been on fire. According to trade analyst Joginder Tuteja, the film sold a whopping 225,000 tickets in advance, with 100,000 of those sold on Thursday alone. Trade website Sacnilk reported that the film had already earned Rs 9.23 crore from advance bookings for day one.
These numbers are pointing towards a massive opening. Projections are putting the day one collection anywhere between Rs 15 crore and Rs 20 crore, with some veteran distributors like Murlidhar Chhatwani expecting it to cross the Rs 25 crore mark. If these predictions hold, Dhurandhar is on track to become Ranveer’s highest post-pandemic opener, a huge win for the star.
First Reviews Are In: It’s a "Blast"
What's even more exciting is the first wave of reviews from fans who caught early screenings around the world. The consensus? The film is "lit." One fan abroad called it a "3-hour blast" and declared, "Ranveer Singh is truly back with a bang." Another review on X praised the film for gluing you to your seat from the very first frame, highlighting a "killer climax with a surprise twist."
The praise is being heaped on the performances, with Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, and R Madhavan getting special shout-outs. A review from Australia described it as a "POWERFUL ACTION-PACKED THEATRICAL" experience, calling Ranveer's performance one of his "most emotional gritful performances as a super spy." The villains, particularly Akshaye Khanna, were described as "Evil x 1000," and the action sequences were hailed as "Raw + Goosebumps."
Behind-the-Scenes Drama and Future Plans
Interestingly, the release wasn't without its last-minute hiccups. Press screenings in New Delhi and Mumbai were suddenly cancelled due to "technical reasons." There were also reports of a delay in delivering the IMAX content, meaning some theatres might have to play the non-IMAX version on the first day. It just goes to show the immense pressure and logistics involved in a release of this scale.
On the eve of the release, Yami Gautam, who is married to director Aditya Dhar, also shared a powerful note on X. She spoke out against the "monster of paid film PR," hinting at a trend of paying for positive hype or facing a barrage of negativity. She called this practice a "plague" that feels like "extortion," a fascinating and brave peek behind the curtain of the industry.
But perhaps the most exciting tidbit for fans who love the film is the news that a sequel is already on the cards. Actor Rakesh Bedi, who has a role in the film, let it slip in an interview that he will be playing a significant role in the second installment. He even confirmed that Dhurandhar 2 is expected to hit screens within the next few months, which is an incredible vote of confidence in the franchise's potential.
Conclusion
The bottom line is this: Dhurandhar has arrived with the force of a tidal wave. It's a massive, ambitious film with a powerhouse cast, led by a commanding Ranveer Singh in what many are already calling a career-defining performance. Despite the pre-release controversies and some logistical bumps, the deafeningly positive early reviews and stellar box office start suggest that Aditya Dhar has another monster hit on his hands. This isn't just a movie; it's a full-blown cinematic event that seems destined to dominate conversations for weeks to come.
