Veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has set the cat among the pigeons with his explosive commentary on the runaway success of the spy action thriller 'Dhurandhar'. Starring Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar, the film has not just shattered box office records but, according to RGV, has sent shockwaves through the Hindi film industry, leaving established makers terrified.
RGV's Scathing Take on the Industry's Fear
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the director of classics like 'Satya' did not mince words. He declared 'Dhurandhar' a "pathbreaking and monstrous hit" that the industry wishes to ignore. The reason? A deep-seated sense of threat. Varma argued that many are unable to match the new standards set by the film and thus choose to pretend it doesn't exist.
He elaborated that numerous big-budget films currently in various stages of production were conceived and written before 'Dhurandhar' hit the screens. These projects, he claims, are rooted in old formulas and templates that the audience has now moved beyond. The success of Aditya Dhar's vision has, in his view, rendered those blueprints obsolete.
'Dhurandhar' is a 'Scary Dog' in the Room
In a characteristically vivid analogy, Ram Gopal Varma compared the film's impact to a large, intimidating dog in someone's house. "Even if the owner says the dog will not bite, people will still keep watching it secretly and be scared," he wrote. He suggested that just like that dog, 'Dhurandhar' will continue to "loiter in all their minds," a persistent nightmare that current filmmakers cannot wake up from.
He took his critique a step further, stating that 'Dhurandhar' is not a film that relies on hero worship in the conventional sense. Instead, the film itself is the hero. This fundamental shift in narrative craft is what he believes has left the old guard bewildered and afraid.
A 'Horror Film' for Outdated Filmmakers
RGV's most striking comments framed 'Dhurandhar' as a source of terror for certain creators. He tweeted, "#Dhurandhar will be like a HORROR FILM for all those FILM MAKERS who do not have the ability to make a film with such BRILLIANCE, INTELLIGENCE, INTEGRITY, and CRAFT." He reiterated that for those clinging to the earlier template of filmmaking, this blockbuster's success is a genuinely frightening phenomenon.
Backing his bold claims are staggering numbers. As per industry tracker Sacnilk, 'Dhurandhar' has roared past the Rs 612.22 crore mark in the Indian box office in just 21 days. This colossal commercial triumph, coupled with its status as one of the most discussed films in recent memory, validates Varma's argument about its undeniable impact.
Featuring an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal, 'Dhurandhar' has clearly transcended being just another hit. According to Ram Gopal Varma, it is a watershed moment—a "game changer" that the industry can choose to ignore only at its own peril, as it signals a dramatic evolution in what Indian audiences now crave from cinematic spectacles.
