The highly anticipated Bollywood blockbuster Dhurandhar finally made its digital debut on Netflix at midnight on January 30, but the celebration was short-lived as viewers discovered significant censorship edits that sparked immediate backlash across social media platforms.
Streaming Debut Met with Immediate Criticism
While fans eagerly logged into Netflix to either rewatch the Ranveer Singh starrer or catch it for the first time after missing its theatrical run, their excitement quickly turned to disappointment. The Aditya Dhar directorial premiered on the OTT platform with noticeable cuts that drew widespread criticism from viewers who had expected to see the complete, uncensored version of the film.
Major Edits and Censorship Issues
Available in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu language options, the digital version of Dhurandhar arrived with substantial edits that removed approximately 10 minutes of content from the original theatrical cut. Social media users expressed particular frustration with the muting of dialogues and censorship of strong language, questioning why an A-rated film required such modifications for digital streaming.
One user on X highlighted the runtime discrepancy, noting: "#Dhurandhar Runtime on Netflix is 3H 25M because it's derived from the Theatrical Cut of 208 mins i.e. 3H 28M. The 214 min version (3H 34M) was likely removed from the theatres & replaced with this 208 mins version. Removing those extra 3 mins of warnings & we get 3H 25M."
Viewer Reactions and Disappointment
The censored version triggered a wave of complaints across social media platforms, with many users expressing their disappointment directly to Netflix India. One viewer commented: "A big letdown from you people @NetflixIndia Why the hell would you Censor it when everyone is expecting for an uncensored version? Censoring an A rated film itself is a joke whereas Animal and Kabir Singh has no cuts."
Another user simply stated: "Chii @NetflixIndia ruined my mood, needed uncensored version," while a fourth viewer questioned the logic behind censoring content for an adult audience: "You certify the film as A but you have muted/censored words! Like are we bunch of 5y/o or what? Everyone in this app is over 18, there's no meaning in watching a film with lots of cuts and censoring."
Additional complaints highlighted specific issues with the streaming version, including: "Cut version uhh around 10 mins portions deleted!" and "It not the uncensored version, disappointed," while another noted: "Beeped words and modified dialogues are as it is even on Netflix."
Historic Box Office Performance
The OTT release comes eight weeks after Dhurandhar's historic theatrical debut on December 5. The spy-action thriller achieved remarkable commercial success during its 56-day theatrical run, grossing an impressive ₹1301 crore worldwide. This performance established it as the most-watched Bollywood film in Hindi during the post-pandemic era.
Record-Breaking Collections
Dhurandhar's box office achievements include:
- Worldwide gross of ₹1301 crore
- Overseas business of ₹298.65 crore gross
- India gross of ₹1002.35 crore, making it the first film to cross the 1000 crore mark in a single language
- Fourth biggest Indian grosser overall
- ₹835.86 crore net at the Hindi box office
- ₹36 lakh collected on its 56th and final day of theatrical release
Sequel Anticipation and Future Releases
Despite the controversy surrounding its OTT debut, anticipation continues to build for Dhurandhar Part 2. Netflix has secured streaming rights for both installments of the franchise, confirming that the sequel will also premiere on the platform following its theatrical run. The second part is scheduled for a cinema hall release on March 19, coinciding with the Eid festival celebrations.
The contrast between the film's tremendous box office success and the disappointing reception of its censored OTT version highlights ongoing debates about content regulation and viewer expectations in India's evolving digital entertainment landscape.
