R Madhavan says he knew Dhurandhar would spark strong reactions and praised Aditya Dhar's research and vision. He called out early negative reviews saying obituaries were written even before release, and suggested there may be agendas behind the film's polarising response
R Madhavan on Dhurandhar
Aditya Dhar’s spy action thriller Dhurandhar, which released a week ago, is performing strongly at the box office. The film stars R. Madhavan as Intelligence Bureau Chief Ajay Sanyal, who leads a high-stakes mission to dismantle a terror network in Pakistan. While some have praised the Ranveer Singh-starrer for its attention to detail and expansive story, others have called it out for its violence and portrayal of politics. Now, Madhavan has shared how the film was called a disaster on the first day and even “obituaries” were written.
R. Madhavan on Dhurandhar’s polarising reviews
While talking to Esquire India, Madhavan reacted to the question of polarising opinions and spoke about his films Rang De Basanti and 3 Idiots. He shared that he always knew a film like Dhurandhar would impact society. The actor stated, “When I heard Dhurandhar and saw the immaculate research that had been done by Aditya Dhar, the fearlessness of the man, the uniqueness of his storytelling — these were the signs I got before the release of my film. I knew that this was going to impact society. There will be people who will first give it very bad ratings, and then there will be people who will suddenly go and wonder, ‘Wow, this happened.’”
He added, “You are free to express your opinion, but even before the film was released, obituaries had been written, and on its release, you posted a review calling it a disaster. One wonders if there is an agenda,” he said, adding, “But as actors, we thrive on this situation. Please don’t forget, irrespective of whatever your opinions and agendas are, we are a very lonely family, and it is our job, no matter how much you like or hate a product or a person. Don’t take a jibe at the industry like an outsider. We have enough of them already.”
About Dhurandhar
The film is said to be inspired by real-life events, focusing on geopolitical tensions and covert operations carried out by India’s RAW. It particularly highlights Operation Lyari, a crackdown by the Pakistani government targeting gangs and criminal networks in Karachi’s Lyari area. The film also stars Sara Arjun, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Akshaye Khanna, Rakesh Bedi and Saumya Tandon in pivotal roles. Released on December 5, 2025, the makers have confirmed that the sequel, Dhurandhar 2, will hit theatres on March 19, 2026.
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