The Hindu Review Calls Dhurandhar: The Revenge a Loud, Violent Spectacle That Forgets to Breathe

The Hindu has published its review of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the nearly four-hour sequel to Aditya Dhar’s 2025 spy thriller. Critic Anuj Kumar writes that Ranveer Singh’s performance salvages the film, but the sequel doubles down on propaganda and pugnacity, making it half as effective as the original.

The review, published on March 19, 2026, describes the film as an exhausting revenge saga that mistakes length for depth. Kumar notes that the sequel attempts to outdo the original in volume and venom, perhaps at the expense of its narrative weight.

A Migraine and a Beard

Early in the film, a background voice menacingly provokes: ‘you are not ready for this.’ Kumar writes that one wants to tell her that one is over-prepared. He adds that he went for a story and returned with a migraine and a beard.

Kumar acknowledges Dhar as a master of frame and fireworks but says he loses sight of the clock and control. He suggests this may be deliberate, as the film feeds the bloodlust of a section of the masses, ensuring a box-office bonanza but setting a dangerous precedent.

Ranveer Singh Carries the Load

The review states that the film’s strongest hook is Ranveer Singh’s performance. After being overshadowed by Akshaye Khanna in the first part, Singh flexes all his muscles here, shifting between vulnerability, cold calculation, and unhinged ferocity to carry the nearly four-hour runtime almost single-handedly as a home-grown Rambo.

Kumar writes that Singh’s performance works like an explainer of the first part, an answer to those who mocked Dhar’s peak detailing. However, he notes that Dhar’s style leans heavily on gratuitous violence, creating a world so relentlessly brutal that it seems the makers want the audience to become numb.

Propaganda and Pugnacity

The review criticises the sequel for doubling down on propaganda. It notes that the film channels the mood of the moment, when the world is itching for war, and feeds the bloodlust of a section of the masses. Kumar writes that this ensures a box-office bonanza but sets a dangerous precedent.

The Hindu’s review also highlights the film’s runtime of 229 minutes. It states that the exhausting revenge saga picks up right after the first film’s climax, with undercover Indian agent Jaskirat Singh Rangi now deeply embedded as Hamza Ali Mazari, rising to dominate Karachi’s Lyari underworld.

Box Office and Controversy

Dhurandhar: The Revenge was released on March 19, 2026. It collected more than 1,352 crore rupees worldwide (about 162 million dollars), eclipsing the previous film’s earnings within its first two weeks in cinemas.

The film has also sparked controversy over its portrayal of political events. A separate review in Frontline, published by The Hindu Group, states that for all its peacocking and bloodshed, the film ultimately hates India, revelling as it does in its unravelling.

The Frontline review notes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared in cameos in the film, winning the 2014 election and announcing demonetisation. It describes the theatre audience cheering for Modi and demonetisation, turning the screening briefly into an election rally.

Separate Release: Haiwaan

Meanwhile, another Hindi thriller, Haiwaan, was released on September 11, 2026. The film stars Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in their reunion after 18 years. It is directed by Priyadarshan and is inspired by the 2016 Malayalam film Oppam.

Haiwaan has received mixed-to-negative reviews from major outlets, with critics citing its bloated runtime of 2 hours and 44 minutes as a primary grievance. The Hindu has not yet published a full review of Haiwaan, but the film has been reviewed by Hindustan Times, NDTV, and India Today.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge remains in theatres. The film’s Wikipedia page was briefly labelled a propaganda film before the label was removed following an editing dispute.