Dhurandhar: The Revenge continues its historic box office run, crossing ₹1400 crore globally in just 13 days. It has become the first Hindi film to achieve this milestone without any contribution from China and is now the fourth-highest-grossing Indian film of all time. Trade experts believe it is well on track to break into the top two, possibly even claim the top spot.
The film’s massive success has sparked nationwide conversations, memes, and debates. Veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan even compared its cultural impact to Sholay, often regarded as one of Indian cinema’s greatest films.
Loud applause from the South
Despite rewriting box office records, appreciation from within Bollywood has been relatively muted. In contrast, the loudest support has come from the South Indian film industry.
Superstars like Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, and Allu Arjun, along with filmmakers such as S. S. Rajamouli and Nag Ashwin, have openly praised the film. Rajinikanth reportedly hailed director Aditya Dhar as a “box office ka baap,” while Rajamouli lauded Ranveer Singh’s performance, calling one of his scenes a “masterclass in acting.”
Actors like Ram Charan, Kajal Aggarwal, and Mahesh Babu have also joined in celebrating the film.
This strong backing is reflected in the film’s performance in southern markets. Across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, Dhurandhar 2 has earned over ₹200 crore net. It is now poised to surpass Jawan as the highest-grossing Hindi film in the region — notably without relying on South Indian stars or filmmakers.
Bollywood’s muted response
In contrast, Bollywood’s response has been noticeably restrained. A few prominent names like Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, and Akshay Kumar have publicly praised the film. However, several leading stars have remained silent.
Aamir Khan admitted he has not yet watched the film, while Salman Khan has not commented on it. Shah Rukh Khan, who recently promoted Subedaar, has also not publicly acknowledged Dhurandhar 2. Meanwhile, actors like Kangana Ranaut and Priyanka Chopra — currently somewhat distanced from mainstream Bollywood — have voiced their support.
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar criticized this silence, pointing out the lack of unity in the Hindi film industry. He emphasized that a film’s success benefits the entire ecosystem — from actors to technicians — and should be openly celebrated.
Why the silence?
The reasons behind Bollywood’s muted reaction remain a topic of debate. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma suggested that “fear” or “jealousy” could be factors, given the film’s unprecedented success.
However, another perspective points to ideological caution. While widely praised, Dhurandhar 2 has also faced criticism for allegedly promoting the government led by Narendra Modi, with some labelling it as propaganda. Bollywood, which often avoids politically sensitive debates, may be choosing to stay neutral and steer clear of controversy.
Some also argue that appreciation may have been conveyed privately rather than on social media. Yet, for an industry known for publicly celebrating box office successes, this relative silence stands out as unusual.
