Kunal Kohli Exposes Bollywood's Skepticism Towards Blockbuster Dhurandhar 2
While audiences were still celebrating the December release of Dhurandhar, its sequel Dhurandhar 2 has delivered a stunning box office performance that has left the industry reeling. The film has not only surpassed the collections of its predecessor but has made history by becoming the first Bollywood production to cross ₹1000 crore net in India. On the global stage, Dhurandhar 2 has achieved an impressive ₹1300 crore worldwide.
Industry Silence and Director's Revelations
Amid widespread praise from southern film celebrities, netizens have raised questions about the noticeable silence from Hindi film industry figures. Director Kunal Kohli has now broken this silence with startling revelations about the industry's initial skepticism.
"Even when the industry doesn't support a film, the film still works. Nobody supported Dhurandhar," Kohli stated during an interview with Screen magazine. "The biggest directors I spoke to on phone said, 'Monday ko baith jayegi' (It will slow down on Monday). But on Monday, it ran even better."
Historical Parallels with Border 2
Kohli drew compelling parallels with Anurag Singh's Border 2, starring Sunny Deol, which faced similar skepticism despite its eventual success. "Nobody supported Border 2. People said it would slow down in the second week. It's done ₹300 crore plus! What are you saying! That's a blockbuster. End of discussion," Kohli emphasized. "It doesn't matter if the industry supports you or not."
Personal Journey: Hum Tum's Similar Experience
Reflecting on his own career, Kohli revealed that the industry mindset hasn't evolved significantly since the release of his 2004 romantic comedy Hum Tum, starring Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji. He recalled how producer Aditya Chopra advised him against attending a preview screening.
"Adi told me not to go because the industry people going for it wouldn't get the film," Kohli shared. Despite this warning, he attended and was disheartened by the negative reactions. "I was so depressed I called up Adi. He said, 'I asked you to not go because I know it's not their type of film.' So, 99% of the people in the industry don't want you to succeed."
The Turning Point and Rare Support
Despite the lukewarm industry response, Hum Tum became both a commercial success and a defining romantic comedy. Kohli described a pivotal moment when veteran filmmaker Rakesh Roshan personally called to congratulate him.
"On Monday at 1 pm, Adi, I, and Rani were sitting in the office, still wondering if it's going to drop or hold on Monday," Kohli recounted. "Mr. Rakesh Roshan called me and said, 'Kunal, your film is houseful in the 12:30 pm show on Monday in Indore! The biggest of big films fail to do that. Congratulations, your film is a big hit.'"
Kohli noted this was particularly meaningful since Roshan's earlier film Mujhse Dosti Karoge! had underperformed. "There are people like Rakesh ji who'd support you, a new film. That's why he's such a big filmmaker," Kohli said appreciatively.
Questioning Genuine Praise
Addressing whether the industry's public praise for Dhurandhar 2 is genuine or strategic, Kohli dismissed the idea of mutual back-scratching. "There's very little scratch my back. Because if you let someone scratch your back, they'd probably stab you in the back," he remarked sharply.
Kohli's revelations highlight a persistent pattern in Bollywood where industry insiders frequently underestimate potential hits while genuine support remains rare. His experiences with both Hum Tum and observations about contemporary blockbusters suggest that commercial success often arrives despite, rather than because of, industry backing.
