Undoubtedly, Ranveer Singh has made a stunning comeback, demonstrating that he can take on any role or persona — and Dhurandhar is evidence of that. He is wild, cunning, and a ruthless killer who unexpectedly possesses a beating heart in Aditya Dhar’s lavish film that oscillates between a high-energy cross-border espionage tale and a gangster narrative.
Why Dhurandhar Stands Out: A Mega-Scale Blend of Espionage, Violence & Emotional Turmoil
“Ghayal hun isliye jaanleva hun.” Although this brief statement resembles a tribute to Sunny Deol’s action movies from the ’90s, it simultaneously captures Ranveer Singh’s emotions of having waited too long for his chance. Similar to its runtime of 3 hours and 32 minutes, it took an extended period — more than two years — for Dhurandhar to make its way to theaters.
The storyline had already ‘leaked’ days ahead of the release, so indeed, although Dhurandhar is framed by the 1999 IC-814 Kandahar hijack and the 2001 Parliament attack, the initial segment of the film offers much more.
Building on the overarching theme of revenge from Uri: The Surgical Strike, Aditya Dhar extends the message of his 2019 debut further when Ranveer Singh’s character in the Dhurandhar closing scene declares, “Ye naya Bharat hai, ye ghar mein ghusega bhi aur maarega bhi.”
The happenings in Dhurandhar begin on December 30, 1999, just before the release of the Kandahar hijack hostages, following India’s decision to let go of three Pakistani terrorists — Masood Azhar, Omar Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar. We encounter Ajay Sanyal from the Intelligence Bureau, portrayed by the reliable R Madhavan, who strongly opposes releasing the terrorists but is thwarted by the bureaucracy
Also Read:Dhurandhar Sets the Screen Ablaze: Early Reviews Praise Ranveer Singh’s Intensity
Once further damage occurs, the external affairs minister — who bears a striking resemblance to Jaswant Singh but is called Devavrat Kapoor — ultimately concedes and permits Ajay Sanyal to have his way. The two raise their glasses to toast the start of a clandestine project known as ‘Dhurandhar’.
In this project, we observe this “weapon”, a person devoid of family or aim, arriving in Lyari, the infamous gang territory of Karachi in Pakistan. This weapon is named Humza Ali Mazari, which was later discovered to be Jaskirat Singh Rangil, portrayed by Ranveer Singh.
Why choose Lyari, you inquire? It is said that whoever occupies the throne of Lyari gains control over Karachi and consequently governs Pakistan.
Dhurandhar explains how Pakistan’s gangs, political figures, and the ISI function collectively as a network, uniting their influence to instigate terror against India. The movie also addresses the tension between Pakistani residents and Balochs residing in Pakistan.
The sole cast member who nearly eclipses Ranveer Singh’s brilliance is the remarkable Akshaye Khanna. In the role of the revered and dreaded Lyari mobster, inspired by the true figure Rehman ‘Dakait’ Baloch, who seeks recognition as a political figure, Akshaye Khanna is completely engaging in various emotional expressions
Sanjay Dutt’s SP Chaudhry Aslam, inspired by the actual Pakistani supercop of the same name, is intimidating. His character, sidelined as SP for seven years, returns to restore order in Lyari at the behest of scheming Pakistani politician Jameel Jamaali, who assures him of a Lyari Task Force that will operate under “mah life, mah rules, and with mah boys.”
Arjun Rampal’s Major Iqbal from ISI has limited screen time in the film, yet the actor leaves a significant impact. The notorious torture sequence involving an Indian operative, whose body is embedded with fishhooks as shown at the start of the Dhurandhar trailer, is even more haunting in the movie.
Before Major Iqbal’s brutality reaches its peak, he steadily rolls up his sleeves, selects an apron from the wall, and puts on gloves, making sure his outfit remains blood-free. This isn’t the only occasion where the audience will encounter brutality, gore, and graphic violence (Consider this a warning)
It’s the first instance we observe Humza nearly revealing his disguise, appearing like a startled deer in headlights, a moment that highlights Ranveer Singh’s exceptional talent as a performer.
Debutante Sara Arjun excels as Yalina, the defiant young daughter of Jameel Jamaali (a fantastic Rakesh Bedi). Unexpectedly, the age difference between the two main characters is confronted directly in a pivotal discussion where Yalina’s father reproaches Humza for pursuing a 19-year-old when he should be at least 32
A special mention to Gaurav Gera (known as Nandu from Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin), who looks completely different in the movie. Inform us if you see him.
Also Read:Dhurandhar 1st Review: Ranveer Singh Delivers His ‘Most Intense’ Performance Yet
Aditya Dhar again assigns the film’s background score to his Uri partner Shashwat Sachdev, who delivers quality work. Shashwat Sachdev ingeniously incorporates timeless Pakistani tunes such as Hawa Hawa by Hasan Jahangir, Chupke Chupke by Ghulam Ali, and Afreen Afreen by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, alongside popular Indian tracks like Piya Tu Ab To Aaja and Rambha Ho!, as the narrative unfolds. The movie’s soundtrack features treasures like the title song, the refreshed Karvaan qawwali, and Ez-Ez that are worth listening to.
What might discourage you is the episode-by-episode structure of the movie and the latter half, which seems like an entirely different film. Archival video also appears intermittently, showcasing actual faces and names. A lengthy disclaimer at the start indicates that the movie combines reality and fiction, featuring names like Arshad Pappu, Benazir Bhutto, and Aaqib Ali Zarwari. Choose whichever you like.
Certain viewers might feel let down as many images in the Dhurandhar trailer are from part two, set to debut in theaters on March 19, 2026.
Dhurandhar doesn’t wrap up with the “Kattappa ne Baahubali ko kyun maara?” suspense like Baahubali: The Beginning, but viewers will return to cinemas in March to discover the journey of Dhurandhar before it wraps up. Ideally, part two honors Ranveer Singh as an actor.