Rating: 4.6 / 7
Introduction
If you’ve caught the pre-release screening as I did, buckle up—Dhurandhar: The Revenge cranks the hype to explosive new heights, delivering non-stop thrills that had the early crowd roaring.
Ranveer Singh owns the screen in ways that’ll leave you speechless, turning this into a must-watch event film’s pinnacle.
Cast and Release Details
Ranveer Singh as Hamza Ali Mazari / Jaskirat Singh Rangi
Arjun Rampal as Major Iqbal, ISI (inspired by real terror figures like Ilyas Kashmiri)
Sanjay Dutt as SP Chaudhary Aslam, Sindh Police
R. Madhavan as Ajay Sanyal, IB Director (modeled on Ajit Doval)
Sara Arjun as Yalina Jamali, Hamza’s wife
Others: Rakesh Bedi, Danish Pandor, Gaurav Gera, and cameos referencing terror masterminds like Dawood Ibrahim and Sajid Mir
Out Now: Hit theaters March 19, 2026—stay seated for those post-credits teases the director begged for!
What is in the movie?
Hamza’s backstory unfolds through intense flashbacks: Jaskirat Singh Rangi, a death-row inmate, is recruited by IB’s Ajay Sanyal for a suicide mission—to morph into Hamza and dismantle Pakistan’s terror networks from Lyari’s gangs to ISI tops.
It all ignites post-26/11, avenging attacks with popular nods to real terrorists like David Headley, Sajid Mir, and Dawood.
The core is a relentless cat-and-mouse chase between Hamza and Major Iqbal, exploding into brutal fights—think rocket launchers in Karachi alleys, bloodbaths with limbs flying in gruesome slow-mo.
Heroic frames glorify Hamza: slow-motion leaps over explosions, silhouetted against fiery sunsets, gun blazing like a one-man army.
Retro songs like remixed “Aari Aari” blast during chases, blending 2000s nostalgia with pounding beats.
Unexpected deaths shock: allies betray, lovers sacrifice, turning every alliance suspect. Hamza’s enigmatic behavior—cold killer one moment, tender husband next—builds constant suspense, amplified by tough choices like killing innocents for the mission.
Twists pile on, hinging viewers: retro remixes like “Aari Aari” blast during chases, Modi-esque leader scenes rally patriotism, and intense build-ups lead to nail-biting confrontations.
Climax delivers an epic Hamza-Major showdown amid Karachi chaos. Hamza emerges with a broken state weapon.
Director urges: Stay for two post-credit scenes.
Technical Analysis
Filming spans India (Punjab, Ladakh) and Thailand, doubling as Pakistan, with steady cameras capturing raw chaos—handheld shakes and chase tension without dizzying you.
Lighting plays sly: dim Karachi shadows hide Hamza’s doubts, golden heroic glows frame his triumphs, making artificial tension feel real.
Artificial Analysis
Sound design roars: Shashwat Sachdev’s score throbs with intense beats; retro songs like remixed “Aari Aari” add nostalgic punch during action, blending old-school vibes with modern thumps.
VFX elevates gore realistically—blood sprays, explosions look practical, blood splatters, bone crunches hit hard via surround effects, retro tracks remix old hits with modern bass for nostalgic punch.
No overload; serves story, like fiery backdrops underscoring Hamza’s rage. Overall, tech feels grounded, pulling you into the grit without fancy distractions.
What Works
Epic Fights and Chases: Hamza-Major showdowns are visceral, with inventive choreography like rooftop pursuits amid fireworks.
Twists and Suspense: Non-stop surprises, as identity flips, hook you—Hamza’s shifting loyalty keeps guessing.
Heroic Visuals and Gore: Stunning frames glorify Ranveer’s intensity; bloodbaths are extreme but purposeful, heightening stakes.
Backstory and References: Hamza’s origin grips, terror nods, add gritty realism without preachiness.
Post-Credits Payoff: Two scenes deliver franchise teases, rewarding patience.
Retro Songs and Build-Ups: Nostalgic tracks energize; intense dilemmas create edge-of-seat moments.
What Doesn’t Work?
Lengthy Runtime: 229 minutes, drag in mid-gang politics, testing patience despite pace.
Over-the-top patriotism: Modi-like scenes feel preachy at times.
Audience hype
Ranveer Singh delivers what might be the pinnacle of his career so far, embodying Hamza’s shadowy duality with a magnetic intensity that keeps you questioning his every move right up to the explosive finale
This beast packs jaw-dropping chases and fights that’ll have you gripping your seat, heroic shots framing Ranveer’s Hamza like a living legend, and a backstory that hooks from frame one.
Expect blood-soaked mayhem, real-world terror nods that hit hard, retro bangers pumping the energy, insane twists keeping you guessing every second, and dilemmas so tough they’ll mess with your head. The suspense around his every move? Masterclass.
At nearly 4 hours, it’s a full-throttle marathon worth every minute—pre-release proved it’s cinema gold.
Final Thoughts
The film’s relentless barrage of twists, from shocking betrayals to gut-wrenching deaths, masterfully hooks the audience, while the blood-soaked encounters nodding to real-world terror figures like Dawood and Atiq Ahmed inject a raw, topical edge that elevates it beyond standard masala fare.
Sure, the marathon runtime tests the patience with occasional patriotic overkill, but the masterful build-ups, retro song pulses during chases, and those two essential post-credit scenes—hinting at an even grander saga—make every minute worthwhile, rewarding patient viewers with teases of future chaos.
For theater-goers in Delhi or beyond, this is the kind of immersive spectacle that demands the big screen; it’s not flawless, but its sheer ambition and visceral thrills make it an absolute must-watch that lingers long after the credits roll.
