From ‘no expression’ jibe supposedly at War 2 to praising Ranveer as DiCaprio-level: RGV’s Dhurandhar 2 take

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is clearly not done talking about Dhurandhar: The Revenge. The director has been openly praising the film ever since its release, and now, in a recent chat with Faridoon Shahryar, he has gone a step further, breaking down what, according to him, makes the film stand apart in today’s action-heavy landscape. At the heart of his appreciation lies the film’s emotional honesty. Varma pointed out that Ranveer Singh’s character, Jaskirat Singh aka Hamza Ali Mazari, is far from a spotless hero. In fact, he believes the protagonist operates in the same moral grey zone as the antagonists, including Arjun Rampal’s Major Iqbal. Rather than simplifying the conflict into good versus evil, Varma appreciated how director Aditya Dhar presents every character as a product of their circumstances.

For Varma, that shift in perspective makes all the difference. He stressed that once you stop looking at the characters through the lens of nationality and start seeing them as individuals caught in difficult situations, the story becomes far more layered and engaging.

A sharp comparison with ‘big-budget’ action cinema

While Varma never directly named War 2, his comments made it quite clear which kind of cinema he was critiquing. He spoke about recent large-scale action films featuring major stars, where physical combat looks polished but strangely emotionless.

According to him, many of these films present their heroes as almost invincible figures who don’t react to pain. Punches land, fights unfold, but the characters barely flinch. Varma suggested that this happens because stars often feel the need to maintain a larger-than-life image, one that avoids vulnerability.

He contrasted this with Dhurandhar: The Revenge, where pain is not just shown but felt. He specifically highlighted a scene where Major Iqbal stabs Hamza, calling it one of the most convincing portrayals of physical suffering he has seen in recent times.

Interestingly, he even drew a comparison with Leonardo DiCaprio in Body of Lies, recalling how raw and real the emotion felt in that performance. For Varma, that level of authenticity is rare in mainstream action films today.

One of Varma’s most striking observations was about what truly defines a hero. In his view, a character who bleeds, feels pain, and even breaks down can come across as far more powerful than the typical indestructible action star.

He described Dhurandhar 2 as a familiar story on paper, a man sacrificing everything for his country. But what elevates it, according to him, is the dignity and realism with which every character is treated. There is no forced heroism or exaggerated buildup. Instead, the film allows its characters to remain grounded, even as they perform extraordinary acts.

This, he believes, is the “sea change” modern action cinema needs. Varma’s admiration for the film isn’t new. He has been consistently vocal about his appreciation for Aditya Dhar’s storytelling, even going so far as to dedicate his upcoming project Syndicate to him, calling Dhar his “new guru.”

Meanwhile, Dhurandhar 2 continues to dominate conversations both critically and commercially. The film has raced past massive box office milestones, becoming one of the fastest Hindi films to cross the Rs 500 crore mark domestically, with its global earnings soaring even higher. Ranveer Singh is enjoying his glory days as everyone from the industry, from South stars like Ram Charan, Mahesh Babu, Jr. Ntr & director like SS Rajamouli to the B-town stars like Alia, Ayushmann, Sidharth Malhotra have heaped praises on his performance in the film.

With strong performances, layered characters, and a fresh take on heroism, the film has firmly positioned itself as the current talk of the town. And if Varma’s continued praise is anything to go by, Dhurandhar: The Revenge isn’t just a blockbuster, it’s a film that may quietly reshape how action heroes are written and perceived.