Dhurandhar 2025

Dhurandhar (transl. Stalwart) is one of the most talked-about Hindi spy action thrillers set for 2025. Written, directed, and co-produced by Aditya Dhar (of Uri: The Surgical Strike fame), the film mixes high-risk espionage, underworld drama, and strong patriotic emotion. The story takes cues from real incidents such as the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2001 Indian Parliament attack.

The plot centres on Ajay Sanyal, the chief of India’s Intelligence Bureau, played by Ranveer Singh. He leads a daring covert operation to infiltrate and destroy a terrorist network rooted in Karachi’s criminal underworld. Expect brutal action scenes, double-crosses, and clever spy tactics, giving the film an energy that many are comparing to an Indian version of James Bond.

Buzz around the film has grown thanks to its big cast, heavy-duty trailers, and Dhar’s record with large-scale, event-based thrillers. With a runtime of about 3 hours 34 minutes (214 minutes), it ranks among the longest Indian films ever released. It carries an “A” certificate for adults only, due to strong violence and coarse language.

Key Details of Dhurandhar (2025)

Cast and Crew Highlights

• Ranveer Singh as Ajay Sanyal:
  Plays the central role of a bold intelligence chief in an intense, physical performance. Early buzz calls his work “explosive” and “terrific”, with many saying he owns the film.
• Sanjay Dutt:
  Appears in a key supporting role, adding weight and screen presence.
• R. Madhavan:
  Plays an important part linked to the espionage plot.
• Arjun Rampal:
  Brings a sharp edge to a character positioned either as a main foe or uneasy ally.
• Akshaye Khanna:
  Features in a strong role that widens the story’s dramatic scope.
• Sara Arjun:
  Shares the spotlight as co-lead and adds emotional depth to the narrative.
• Others:
  Saurav Khurana, Rakesh Bedi, Saumya Tandon (confirmed in November 2025 for a key character), and Vikash Rai also appear.

Technical Strengths

Aditya Dhar matches the film’s large-scale story with equally bold technical choices. Cinematographer Vikash Nowlakha uses fast, tense camerawork and often frames scenes in tight spaces to build pressure. The palette stays muted and gritty, which suits the harsh world of covert missions across rugged areas like Ladakh and the crowded, dangerous alleys of Karachi. Karachi itself has been recreated through wide shots in Thailand and Mumbai. The look of the film blends the polish of global spy cinema with the raw punch of mass-market Indian action films.

The sound design and music by Shashwat Sachdev play a major role. Known for his aggressive background scores, Sachdev builds a soundtrack that mixes trap and hip-hop elements with Indian classical and Sufi influences. The result is a loud, driving score that often feels anthemic and heightens tension, especially in the final act. A reworked qawwali, “Ishq Jalakar-Karvaan”, offers a brief, soulful pause before the action ramps up again.

Final Verdict

Dhurandhar is a film of excess and scale, but its ambition usually pays off. It is noisy, long, and designed for the big screen, where its mix of patriotic energy and harsh spy-world reality hits hardest. The script uses a fairly familiar patriotic structure, yet Dhar’s treatment stays stylish, bold, and relentless. The ensemble cast lifts the material, and Ranveer Singh’s fierce performance drives the story from start to finish.

This is a high-adrenaline patriotic action drama that goes full force from the opening scene. It builds towards a climax that feels both emotionally heavy and physically draining. The long runtime asks for patience, but the reward is a broad, high-stakes story that strengthens Aditya Dhar’s image as a director of large-scale, politically charged thrillers. It can feel exhausting at times, but Dhurandhar largely delivers on its promise as a powerful, memorable stalwart of the spy-action genre.

The screenplay mixes swagger with constant tension, shifting between big set pieces and tight character moments. Rumours have linked Ranveer Singh’s role to real-life hero Major Mohit Sharma, though Dhar has publicly denied any direct basis. Filming ran from July 2024 to October 2025 across several locations, including Bangkok for scenes set in Pakistan, Mumbai, the Golden Temple in Punjab, and Ladakh. Production briefly halted in Ladakh when more than 100 crew members suffered food poisoning, before the schedule resumed and wrapped.

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