Anurag Kashyap Lauds Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar’ But Raises Concerns Over Dialogues
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has shared his reaction to the blockbuster spy thriller ‘Dhurandhar’, praising its filmmaking and performances while openly disagreeing with parts of its political messaging.
Writing on Letterboxd, Kashyap called Dhurandhar a “brilliant film” and described its craft as top-notch.
He said he had no issue with the idea that a spy or a soldier carries anger or hostility towards an enemy nation, noting that such emotions are often central to the genre.
However, according to Kashyap, there were two specific dialogues that did not sit well with him.
One line, delivered by R Madhavan, and another near the climax, spoken by Ranveer Singh, made him uncomfortable because of the political message they conveyed.
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Kashyap said that if these moments were taken aside, the film works extremely well, especially considering that it is largely set in Pakistan.
Despite his political disagreement, Kashyap was full of praise for director Aditya Dhar, calling him honest and deeply committed to his storytelling.
He said Dhar is not an opportunist and explained that all his films are rooted in the Kashmir experience. Kashyap added that Dhar is a Kashmiri Pandit who has suffered, and his perspective comes from lived reality. He said one may agree or disagree with Dhar’s politics, but cannot deny his sincerity.
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Kashyap also compared Dhurandhar to Oscar-winning American war and spy films, calling it similar to global propaganda cinema that focuses on national security narratives. He stressed that such films exist worldwide and should be viewed with nuance.
When it came to performances, Kashyap singled out Ranveer Singh, calling him his favourite part of the film and praising his confidence and screen presence. He described Ranveer as “very secure” in the role.
The filmmaker also recalled that he once wanted to cast Ranveer Singh in his 2015 film Bombay Velvet, but the project eventually went to Ranbir Kapoor due to producer pressure. Kashyap said the change in casting significantly altered the film and took him time to accept.
Earlier, Hrithik Roshan had also shared a similar reaction to Dhurandhar, saying that while viewers may disagree with its politics, the film deserves appreciation for its scale, learning value, and cinematic impact and later he posted on Twitter praising the film without mentioning the politics in it.
Directed by Aditya Dhar and co-produced by B62 Studios and Jio Studios, Dhurandhar features a strong ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun. The film has gone on to become the highest-grossing Bollywood film in India, nearing the ₹800 crore mark.