Why is the gap so huge? Saif Ali Khan compares Dhurandhar box office success to other movies

Saif Ali Khan and Ranveer Singh. Pic via X

Actor Saif Ali Khan believes Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar franchise has redefined mainstream Indian cinema. Speaking about the Ranveer Singh-led action films in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, the actor said the industry's commercial landscape has shifted dramatically following the franchise's phenomenal success, adding that filmmakers now have to decide whether they want to evolve with the changing audience.

Reflecting on the box-office phenomenon, Saif said, "Just the difference between… I'll go back to the popularity and the commercial success of something like Dhurandhar, compared to other movies. Why is that gap so huge?" He suggested that the franchise has fundamentally changed audience expectations from commercial cinema.

Saif Ali Khan on Dhurandhar's success

During his conversation, Saif remarked, "I see a time before Dhurandhar and a time after. It's up to us whether we catch up or not and wake up or not."

According to the actor, the franchise didn't just succeed because of its scale, but because of the confidence with which it blended action, storytelling, visuals and music into a cohesive cinematic experience. He particularly appreciated how the films treated music as an organic part of the narrative instead of following conventional Bollywood formulas.

Saif praised the soundtrack, composed by Shashwat Sachdev, for mixing original songs with recreated classics, saying the approach felt fresh and contemporary. He added that filmmakers should not hesitate to experiment with global influences if it serves the story.

Saif Ali Khan praises Shararat song from Dhurandhar

Among the film's musical moments, Saif singled out Shararat, featuring Ayesha Khan and Krystle D'Souza. He called its staging "revolutionary", saying it moved away from the traditional "item song" template by naturally integrating the performance into a wedding sequence.

"Something as revolutionary as that... if you just treat it as a song and have these two girls performing as you would in a wedding, it doesn't jar the eyes at all," he said.

Released in December 2025 and March 2026, the two Dhurandhar films became record-breaking blockbusters, grossing over Rs 3,100 crore worldwide. Dhurandhar: The Revenge currently stands as the second highest-grossing Indian film ever. Apart from Ranveer Singh, the films also feature Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi and Sara Arjun.

Saif was last seen in Netflix's Kartavya and will next be seen in Hum Hindustani and Priyadarshan's Haiwaan, which reunites him with Akshay Kumar after nearly two decades.