Dhurandhar (2025) Movie: Why Akshaye Khanna Steals Ranveer Singh’s Thunder

After Uri’s success, Aditya Dhar returns with Dhurandhar, a darker spy story that pulls no punches. Ranveer Singh leads alongside Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal. Set in Karachi’s criminal underworld, the film follows an Indian spy who must blend into gangs and terrorists to complete a dangerous mission.

The movie hit theaters on December 5, 2025, running 214 minutes with an A certificate for violence. Jio Studios and B62 Studios produced it using chapters to tell the complex story. Vikash Nowlakha’s camera work creates a dark mood while Shashwat Sachdev’s music keeps you on edge. This is part one, with part two coming in March 2026.

The Story Goes Deep

Things start after the 1999 hijacking and 2001 Parliament attack. R. Madhavan plays IB Chief Ajay Sanyal who launches a risky operation inside Pakistan. He picks a young man who becomes Hamza Ali Mazari, played by Ranveer. This agent joins Karachi’s dangerous Lyari gang, facing mafia wars and death threats constantly.

Each chapter shows different parts of Pakistan’s crime world. Akshaye Khanna is Rehman Dakait, a gang boss based on someone real. Sanjay Dutt plays SP Chaudhry Aslam, a cop famous for shootouts. Our hero gains criminal trust while secretly working for India. The film takes time building this world full of politics and bloodshed.

Performances That Hit Hard

Akshaye Khanna owns this movie. His Rehman Dakait is scary and fascinating together. I couldn’t take my eyes off him whenever he showed up. His expressions, movements, voice, everything builds a villain you won’t forget. People call this his career best, and I see why. He outshines everyone at times, even the lead.

Ranveer goes against his usual style here. Rather than his typical fire, he keeps things quiet and tense. The role needs control, and Ranveer gives that. Still, I missed his usual energy. This calm approach fits an undercover agent though. Madhavan brings weight to the intelligence boss role. Dutt looks dangerous as the Pakistani cop. Rampal handles his terrorist part well. Sara Arjun tries, but the romance doesn’t belong here. Other actors add good support throughout.

What Really Works

The film chooses realism over glamour. Where other spy movies look polished, this one shows ugly truths about undercover life. Dark visuals make you feel you’re walking Karachi’s violent streets. Sound uses quiet moments as well as loud ones to build real fear. I liked how carefully the film built its world, linking crime, politics, and terrorism together.

Chapters help keep the complicated plot clear. Dhar’s vision shows through, especially when mixing real footage into scenes. The 26/11 part hits your gut emotionally. Production looks authentic with believable sets. Fights feel rough and brutal instead of choreographed, adding truth to the story. Every cast member performs strongly, leaving no weak spots.

Where Problems Appear

214 minutes is too long. The first half builds atmosphere nicely, but the second half loses steam. The love story with Sara Arjun fails completely. Her choices make no sense, and these parts kill the film’s tension. At nearly four hours already, we didn’t need this distraction at all.

Some stretches drag badly. People wanting nonstop action will get bored. Splitting into two parts means no proper ending despite the huge runtime. The second half wanders from what made the first half strong. Violence sometimes goes beyond story needs. The finish doesn’t reward you for sitting so long. Marketing suggested bigger heroic moments for Ranveer too, but his character stays quiet all through.

Critics Weigh In

Bollywood Hungama gave 4.5 stars, calling it well-made with great performances. Times of India awarded 3.5 stars, praising Ranveer’s controlled intensity and world-building. Hindustan Times rated 3 stars, highlighting acting from Ranveer and Akshaye plus good direction.

India Today gave 3 stars, pointing out Akshaye’s explosive work as the top strength. Deccan Herald rated 3 stars, liking performances and technical quality while criticizing length and pace. The Hindu noted strong acting from Khanna and Singh but found the film stretched too far. NDTV gave 3 stars, liking cast and music but disliking the second half. Rotten Tomatoes shows 50% approval with 6.3 average.

Public Reaction

Social media loves Akshaye Khanna’s work. People rank his Rehman Dakait among Bollywood’s greatest villains recently. Viral posts say the character’s spirit took over him. IMDb displays 8.4 from over 66,000 votes, showing strong public support. Many praise smart writing, real action, and detailed world creation.

Several say the four hours pass easily because storytelling works. But views split here. Some love the slow realistic style. Others wanted more speed and mass appeal from their spy film. Most agree you need patience. This isn’t typical entertainment but a layered tale for viewers ready to invest time and focus.

Rating: 4.5/5