In a bold assertion that has sparked considerable conversation, renowned author and columnist Shobhaa De shared her candid review of the film Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, after enjoying it in theaters.
Here’s the Heart of the Matter
De referred to the movie as nothing short of "brilliant" and "epic," encouraging viewers to appreciate it as a cinematic experience rather than getting entangled in the surrounding political debates. She emphasized that her reflections were genuine and unfiltered, stating, "I’ve just returned from watching Dhurandhar, and this is an impromptu review—completely devoid of any premeditated narrative or script. It’s simply my raw response to the film."
Despite the film's lengthy runtime of three and a half hours, she expressed a desire to watch it again. "I wouldn’t hesitate to sit through it once more. Yes, even for three and a half hours! I was engrossed and didn’t want to miss a single moment," she remarked.
Addressing the heated political discussions surrounding the film, De expressed her bewilderment regarding the outrage. "Honestly, I can’t grasp what all the fuss is about—the conflicts between right and left. Why can’t we just enjoy a film for what it is and appreciate the tremendous effort that goes into creating a monumental work like this?" she questioned.
De dismissed the politicization of the movie as "nonsense," urging audiences to overlook the political implications, declaring, "Forget all that. The political side of it is just manipulative and ridiculous." She made it clear that external criticisms or backlash would not sway her opinion: "If there are critics losing their jobs because of this, or if someone threatens me, frankly, I’m indifferent to it all."
She stressed that her viewing experience was entirely free of political bias, asserting, "I approached it as a viewer with no ideological lens whatsoever. This isn’t about politics; it’s about storytelling—perhaps with some fictional elements. The individual on whom the story is based must have been a remarkable hero. I won’t reveal any names, but I can confidently say it is brilliant and epic."
Praising Ranveer Singh’s performance, she emphasized the actor’s ability to exhibit restraint. "As Ranveer himself puts it—come on, come on—his control was impressive. He could have easily leaned into flamboyance, added a song for himself, or introduced some flashy dance moves, yet he chose to hold back," she noted.
While acknowledging the importance of the female lead in the narrative, De admitted that she did not find the romantic plot particularly engaging. "To be honest, I wasn’t very invested in the female character. That’s just my personal take. She played a strategically significant role, but she wasn’t truly a romantic interest for me," she shared.
Moreover, she boldly expressed, "Ranveer, I felt, completely dominated the film."
Shobhaa De's Take on Akshaye Khanna
Reflecting on Akshaye Khanna’s role, Shobhaa remarked, "I appreciated Akshaye’s performance immensely. While I can’t claim that it blew me away, he is undoubtedly a fantastic actor. However, due to the overemphasis on certain aspects—like one particular song and dance move—I think I may have anticipated more than what I received."
Shobhaa attributed the film’s success largely to its director and the music. "The true star of the film is undoubtedly the director, without whose vision this film wouldn’t exist. But let’s not forget the music, which was superbly orchestrated. It featured a mix of choreographed action set to Bhangra rhythms, operatic tunes, beloved old qawwalis, romantic ballads, and even ‘Monica, Oh My Darling.’"
Concluding her enthusiastic endorsement, Shobhaa De stated emphatically, "Yes, ‘Oh My Darling!’ I absolutely love Dhurandhar. Do yourself a favor and watch it. I wholeheartedly recommend it!"
Contextual Background
Dhurandhar continues to perform remarkably at the box office, having amassed a total of Rs 351 crore to date. Released on December 5, the film stars a talented cast including Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Sanjay Dutt, and Rakesh Bedi. Excitingly, the production team has confirmed that Dhurandhar 2 is set to hit theaters on March 19, 2026.
