Name: Dhurandhar
Director: Aditya Dhar
Genre: Spy
Released: 2025-12-05
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt

Synopsis

Dhurandhar

On 30 December 1999, Minister of External Affairs Devavrat Kapoor and Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) Ajay Sanyal negotiate with terrorist Zahoor Mistry to release three terrorists (including Mistry's brother) and pay a US$10 million ransom in exchange for the lives of airline passengers held captive in Kandahar. Though R&AW Special Secretary K. S. Bhullar rejects Sanyal's proposal to infiltrate terrorist networks in Pakistan, Kapoor later authorises Sanyal's covert "Operation Dhurandhar" following the 2001 Indian Parliament attack. Sanyal sends agent Hamza Ali Mazari into Pakistan via the Torkham border crossing in Afghanistan. In the Lyari suburb of Karachi, Hamza befriends Mohammed Aalam, a juice-shop owner, moves in with him, and works as a waiter while studying local gang politics. As a Baloch, Hamza can align only with the gang led by gangster Rehman Dakait and his cousin and deputy Uzair Baloch. Hamza learns a rival Pathan gang, led by Rehman's estranged father Babu Dakait, plans to kill Rehman's eldest son Naieem Baloch. Babu's men attack a wedding attended by Naieem and his younger brother Faizal; Hamza saves Faizal, but Naieem is killed. At the hospital, Rehman and Uzair note Hamza's firearm skills and recruit him. Jameel Jamali of the Pakistan Awami Party (PAP) urges Uzair not to retaliate before the Lyari election, but Hamza encourages revenge.

Director: Aditya Dhar
Release: 5 Dec 2025
Run time: 214 min
Language: Hindi

Cast & crew

Ranveer Singh Cast

Akshaye Khanna Cast

Arjun Rampal Cast

R. Madhavan Cast

Sanjay Dutt Cast

Aditya Dhar Writer, Director, Producer

Shashwat Sachdev Composer VI Vikash Nowlakha Cinematographer SH Shivkumar V. Panicker Editor, Writer JY Jyoti Deshpande Producer

Reviews

Indian-media reviews, grouped by reception.

Critics' consensus

Mixed

Across 3 available source-linked Indian-media reviews for Dhurandhar, reception is mixed.

IMDb is a reference rating and is not counted as an Indian-media review.

Best forViewers looking for spy and action in Hindi cinema.

Reception Order

All 3 reviews shown

Bollywood Hungama

On the whole, DHURANDHAR is a well-made, ambitious big-screen experience with top-notch craft, memorable moments and some truly outstanding performances, led by a career-best turn from Ranveer Singh and a superbly controlled, scene-lifting act by Akshaye Khanna. However, the excessive run time, dry stretches and the decision to tell this as a two-part saga will restrict its appeal for a section of the audience, especially those expecting a more racy, massy thriller. Ultimately, while the film has all the ingredients to win over viewers who have the patience for its length, its box office performance will heavily depend on word of mouth and how much the audience is willing to embrace such a long, tonally intense espionage drama.

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Pinkvilla Gayatri Nirmal

Final Verdict of Dhurandhar Dhurandhar is a gripping, emotional, and thoroughly engaging spy thriller. With powerful performances from Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, strong direction by Aditya Dhar, and a story filled with action, love, patriotism, and memorable villains, the film is made for the big screen.

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Hindustan Times Rishabh Suri

In the end, Dhurandhar works best as a character study wrapped in a sprawling espionage drama. The storytelling is indulgent and detailed, but the emotional stakes and the cast keep you hooked. Trim thirty minutes and this would have been a knockout. As it stands, it is a sturdy watch.

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Details

Soundtrack

Dhurandhar (Title Track) Muhammad Sadiq, Ranjit Kaur, Hanumankind, Jasmine Sandlas, Sudhir Yaduvanshi, Shashwat Sachdev
Ishq Jalakar (Karvaan) Shashwat Sachdev
Gehra Hua Arijit Singh, Armaan Khan
Shararat Madhubanti Bagchi, Jasmine Sandlas