Ram Gopal Varma Hails 'Dhurandhar 2' as a Game-Changer for Bollywood
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has emerged as the most vocal and controversial supporter of the blockbuster success of 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge,' a position he has maintained since the release of the first installment, 'Dhurandhar,' in December 2023. Following the historic March 19, 2026 release of the sequel, which became the first Bollywood film to gross over Rs. 100 crore worldwide on its opening day, RGV penned a scathing critique of modern masala cinema.
'Dhurandhar 2' Smashes Box Office Records
The spy thriller, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, premiered on March 19, 2026, and shattered records by crossing the Rs 100 crore mark globally on its opening day. As a sequel to Dhar's 2023 blockbuster 'Dhurandhar,' it has captivated audiences and critics alike with its realistic narrative and meticulously controlled action sequences, setting a new benchmark for the industry.
Varma Labels the Sequel a "Horror" for Conventional Filmmakers
In a viral social media post, the acclaimed director of 'Satya' described 'Dhurandhar 2' as a "verdict" against what he termed the "kindergarten dress-up" school of filmmaking, where physics is disregarded and heroes are portrayed as invincible. Varma, renowned for his blunt opinions, called the sequel a "horror" for directors entrenched in "dumbed down, over-the-top cinema," asserting that it exposes the flaws in traditional hero-driven narratives.
He elaborated in a lengthy statement, "The @Dhurandhar2 is a HORROR. It is a horror for all filmmakers who built their careers and their fortunes on dumbed down, over the top cinema. The cinema that demanded the brain to be left at home. The cinema that was rammed down our throats full of LOUDNESS and MASALA which will be now soon on a ventilator struggling for breath."
Varma further emphasized that the film's success will terrify those who rely on action set pieces where physics is a joke and gravity is non-existent. He contrasted this with the new kind of hero portrayed by Ranveer Singh, whose power stems from his mind rather than his biceps, making conventional heroes appear "ridiculous, almost like clowns in a circus."
A Verdict Against Outdated Cinema
The filmmaker asserted that 'Dhurandhar 2' is not merely a film but a decisive judgment against cinema that insults audience intelligence. He wrote, "With Dhurandhar 2 @AdityaDharFilms cut off the head of that kind of cinema, the one that insulted the intelligence of the audience, the one that replaced stories with bloated gaudy visuals, the one that turned heroes into gods and audiences into sheep."
Varma predicted that the box office collections of 'Dhurandhar 2' are burying the beliefs of earlier filmmakers in a grave so deep that even their ghosts cannot escape, signaling a potential shift in Bollywood storytelling.
More About 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge'
'Dhurandhar: The Revenge,' also known as 'Dhurandhar 2,' released on March 19, 2026. While the first part focused on the rise of Hamza Ali Mazari, played by Ranveer Singh, in the underworld of Lyari, the sequel delves into a more personal, brutal, and emotional narrative. The ensemble cast features prominent actors such as Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi, Sara Arjun, R Madhavan, and Sanjay Dutt in pivotal roles, adding depth to the gripping storyline.
