RGV Predicts Industry Shift as Ranveer Singh, Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar 2 Nears Release

Ram Gopal Varma Backs Dhurandhar 2 Ahead of Release

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has thrown his weight behind Aditya Dhar’s upcoming spy thriller Dhurandhar: The Revenge, describing it as a potential turning point for mainstream Indian cinema.

With the sequel set to release on March 19, Varma took to social media to hail the film as an “ASTEROID” that could end what he termed the industry’s “DINOSAUR era.” In a strongly worded post, he wrote, “DHURANDAR 2 is an ASTEROID which might end the DINOSAUR era.”

He further stated that the film has “high chances of completely and permanently obliterating the pan india south films movement by establishing a brand new benchmark with ultra realistic making, genuine character depths etc that actually engage the audience’s brain while still delivering a raw visceral impact.”

Critique of Formula-Driven Filmmaking

Varma argued that Dhurandhar 2 could significantly alter audience expectations. According to him, once viewers experience what he called a “new standard,” films currently in production that rely on conventional “masala” formulas may struggle to compete.

“Those ultra big budgeted masala projects that are already deep into shooting or post production will have an uphill task in competing with the new standards set,” he wrote, adding that producers dependent on formula-driven filmmaking could face “empty theatres and career ending losses.”

He also addressed filmmakers and actors who rely on spectacle-heavy formats. “Directors married to the belief of ‘mass + vfx + scale + gravity defying stunts = guaranteed hit’ will have no choice but to reinvent themselves,” Varma stated. He further remarked that “Superstars who were depending upon their god like statuses resting solely on mindless hero worship will stand exposed in front of highly effective characters who grow to be heroes in the context of the story rather than already being hailed as heroes from frame one.”

Concluding his note, he reiterated: “DHURANDHAR 2 is not just another film coming on March 19th. It can be an ASTEROID STRIKE that might end the DINOSAUR ERA of film making which is full of sheer volume, fake heroism and the so called masala treatment.”

About Dhurandhar: The Revenge

Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film is a sequel to the 2025 blockbuster Dhurandhar. The follow-up delves deeper into the backstory of Ranveer Singh’s character, Hamza Ali Mazari.

The film features Ranveer Singh in the lead, alongside Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi and Danish Pandor.

According to reports, the sequel follows Hamza as he takes over the Karachi underworld, culminating in a confrontation with Arjun Rampal’s character. The project is backed by Jio Studios and B62 Studios and will release in multiple languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.

Box Office Clash With Toxic

Dhurandhar: The Revenge will face competition at the box office from Yash-starrer Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, directed by Geetu Mohandas. The pan-India project also features Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth and Tara Sutaria.

Both films are scheduled for release on March 19, setting up a high-profile theatrical clash. Varma previously described the face-off as a “brutal clash between two cultures” of cinema rather than a North-versus-South battle.

With the release date approaching, attention is firmly on whether Dhurandhar: The Revenge will meet the expectations articulated by one of its most vocal supporters.