The upcoming spy thriller Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, has ignited intense online debate, even before its theatrical release. While the film's high-octane trailer has been widely praised, a segment of social media users has voiced strong criticism against its depiction of extreme and gory violence.
Director's Strong Rebuttal at IFFI
Amid the mixed reactions, director Suparn S Varma, who is currently celebrating the success of his film HAQ, has issued a powerful response. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025 in Goa, Varma labelled the criticism as symptomatic of a double standard among audiences.
He pointed out that while violence in international cinema is often celebrated, similar content in Hindi films is frequently judged more harshly, even when the genre necessitates it. Everybody loves violence in movies when it's foreign, Varma stated, challenging this perceived bias.
In Defense of Cinematic Violence
Varma elaborated on his stance by citing acclaimed examples of violent cinema from around the world to support his argument. He mentioned popular titles that are loved by global audiences despite their graphic content.
When a Marco comes out, everybody loves the violence, he said, referencing the Indonesian action films The Raid 1 and The Raid 2 by Gareth Evans. He also listed other international hits like Gangs of London, Korean cinema, Japanese cinema, and Hollywood films as examples where violence is accepted and appreciated.
Varma passionately defended the creative choices in Dhurandhar, asserting that violence can be a beautiful cinematic element when executed properly and demanded by the narrative. Violence exists; it has existed for eons, and violence is beautiful if you do it cinematically, he remarked.
He further explained that if a story involves a character who tortures others, it is the filmmaker's responsibility to portray that authentically and innovatively. This is the nature of the genre I'm making, Varma added, emphasizing that the spy thriller genre often involves such intense depictions.
A Call for Unified Support for Hindi Cinema
Beyond defending his film, Varma's comments evolved into a broader appeal for the audience to support Hindi cinema on its own terms. He urged viewers to adopt a more universal appreciation for filmmaking, regardless of language.
We need to start celebrating Hindi films for what they are and supporting our filmmakers, he insisted. I think it's very, very important. We cannot have a different lens for different films. It needs to come from a place of passion for cinema, and cinema across languages, across the world.
Dhurandhar is directed, written, and produced by Aditya Dhar. Alongside Ranveer Singh in the lead, the film features an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Akshaye Khanna. The film is scheduled to hit theatres on December 5.
Meanwhile, Suparn S. Varma's latest directorial venture, HAQ, continues to garner widespread acclaim. Starring Yami Gautam and Emraan Hashmi, the courtroom drama, inspired by the true legal battle of Shah Bano Begum, was also screened at the 56th IFFI in Goa on Friday, November 22.
