Dhurandhar Review: A Sensational Cinematic Novel That Breaks Every Conventional Rule And Delivers All The Way

The Film That Moves Like A Book Instead Of An Action Monster

Dhurandhar never behaves like a brutal action celebration even though its trailer promised carnage of a scale that would make anyone brace their spine before walking into the theatre. The film unfolds like an elaborate visual novel that has been lovingly carved into chapters, each one more absorbing than the last, and after a point you stop counting them and simply surrender to the world that surrounds you.

The choice to treat the narrative in this textured, chapter based format gives the film an unusual rhythm that never tries to impress you with noise. Instead, it drifts into your mind and sets up camp.

The Unexpected Gift Of Restraint

What makes the entire exercise fascinating is the fact that Aditya Dhar willingly rejects the temptation of keeping the screen drenched in relentless explosions. He chooses selective bursts of violence and controlled portions of action which carry more weight than any endless sequence could have.

These fleeting moments create tension that feels earned and atmospheric. When a film has this kind of expansive runtime, any overuse of chaos would have crushed the experience, but Dhar ensures that every beat feels carefully measured. The restraint becomes the real spectacle.

An Operation Lyari Inspired World That Feels Hypnotic

Dhurandhar borrows its pulse from Operation Lyari, called Operation Dhurandhar here, an extremely charged chapter of South Asian law enforcement history. The film uses this template to create its own fictional world filled with espionage, corruption, underground networks, and the frighteningly believable consequences of unchecked power.

Arjun Rampal steps in as Major Iqbal, an ISI agent who is driven by an ambition so malicious that he becomes the puppeteer of Karachi’s dark underbelly while plotting against India. The way Dhar builds this environment, packed with danger and adrenaline without ever feeling hollow, deserves applause.

India’s High Stakes Battle Led By A Relentless Ajay Sanyal

Set against historic landmarks like the IC 814 hijacking and the attack on the Indian Parliament, Dhurandhar positions itself as a high energy duel between two sharp minds. Ajay Sanyal, played with characteristic sharpness by R Madhavan, becomes the strategic shield protecting India from Major Iqbal’s terrifying designs.

The interactions between all the players on both sides form the skeletal structure of the film, and they are handled with unwavering clarity. Dhar never loses sight of his characters even when the narrative enters broader geopolitical territory.

Aditya Dhar And His Fierce Confidence As A Storyteller

There is something genuinely admirable about the conviction with which Aditya Dhar has crafted Dhurandhar. Very few filmmakers today attempt movie making that actively steps outside familiar boundaries. Dhar writes this narrative like an enormous literary adventure filled with thematic depth, unpredictable structure, and a level of visual ambition that announces its own identity.

The breaks from convention are constant and deliberate. That the producers supported this enormous vision without forcing it into a safer mould is commendable.

The Duo That Feels Perfect For This War

Watching Sanjay Dutt and Akshaye Khanna standing at the centre of this complex battlefield feels strangely poetic, partly because both actors have lived through enough intense cinematic eras to bring that lived energy into every frame.

Dutt breaks away from the repetitive villainous mould he has often been pushed into, and it feels refreshing to see him lean into something with more nuance. Khanna, with his timeless stillness and sharp delivery, becomes a remarkable counterpart. Their presence gives the film a strange emotional gravity.

A Climax That Shatters Familiar Foundations

The climax of Dhurandhar feels like a controlled act of rebellion against every rule of mainstream action. It is wild, calculated, imaginative, and strangely beautiful. Dhar arranges every moment with a conductor’s precision, building tension that refuses to release you until the final frame has breathed its last. In a world where action films keep resorting to predictable patterns, Dhurandhar boldly refuses to follow the script and the result is a finale that genuinely thrills.

And the music, while it has been chartbusting with one banger after another everywhere already, courtesy Shashwat Sachdev's stellar soundtrack, the background score and yet lesser-known songs including remixed versions of old classics are so seamlessly and intricately put into the film's structure that the music acts yet another huge bonus in elevating your experience.

Ranveer Singh And The Art Of Letting The Film Breathe

One of the most intriguing surprises in Dhurandhar is Ranveer Singh’s approach to his character Hamza. The film could easily have turned him into an unstoppable hero who bulldozes every obstacle, but Dhar writes him as a patient intelligence asset who infiltrates the enemy with caution, strategy, and quiet determination.

This means he is intentionally absent from large chunks of the narrative and Singh embraces that with admirable fearlessness. He lets the ensemble breathe instead of wrestling the film into a star vehicle. In a time when actors are often accused of insecurity, this choice stands out as an example of self assurance.

Hamza’s introductory thread, which blossoms into an origin story in the final stretch, promises an even larger universe, and it is hard not to feel excited about the sequel which has already been lined up for March next year.

A Stellar Ensemble That Works Like A Living Machine

Dhurandhar cannot function without its ensemble. The cast merges into the story like interlocking parts of an intricate mechanism. Akshaye Khanna is razor sharp. Arjun Rampal is menacing and controlled. Sanjay Dutt brings emotional heft. Rakesh Bedi turns out to be a surprise delight as Jameel, a politician who moves between comedy and cruelty with the ease of someone who understands narrative rhythm.

Even the supporting actors arrive with intention and craftsmanship instead of fading into the background like the likes of Gaurav Gera and Danish Pandor, who played Uzair. This is the difference between a routine ensemble and a truly alive one.

Sara Arjun’s romantic thread with Ranveer Singh works in some places, although her rawness occasionally shows. Her youth makes certain emotional moments feel lighter than intended, yet her sincerity offers a sweetness that balances the brutality of the world around her.

A Production Design Triumph That Creates A Living, Breathing Lyari

The fictional town of Lyari has been constructed with a level of detail that deserves its own paragraph of appreciation. The production design team creates a world so persuasive and so textured that you forget you are watching sets. Every street, every wall, every corner feels inhabited. The grime, the chaos, the claustrophobia, and the tension feel organic. It is the kind of world building that does not scream for attention yet elevates the narrative. The team deserves enormous recognition for this achievement.

The Promise Of A Growing Universe

Dhurandhar positions itself as one chapter in a larger saga. The mention of a hitlist, the build up of Hamza’s long term mission, and the carefully planted narrative seeds all point toward a universe that intends to grow. This approach allows the story to breathe instead of complicating itself to justify a sequel. It feels natural and strategic. By the time the credits roll, you are already seated in your mind waiting for the next installment to begin.