Mumbai, Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, one of the most expensive Hindi films of the year with a reported production and marketing budget north of ₹280 crore, hit Indian screens today amid considerable pre-release turbulence. Early reactions from paying audiences, however, suggest the gamble may pay off handsomely.
Within hours of the first-day-first-show screenings, social media platforms — particularly X — have been inundated with overwhelmingly positive reviews from cinema-goers. The consensus appears remarkably consistent: Ranveer Singh delivers a career-defining performance, the action sequences are visceral and technically accomplished, and the film functions as a full-blooded theatrical experience despite its daunting 3-hour-34-minute runtime.
Typical audience reactions include:
– “Paisa vasool… Ranveer Singh is phenomenal, BGM hits hard, action is wild”
– “A high-adrenaline patriotic action drama that hits hard from the very first frame”
– “Despite being 3h34m long, the film feels tight, gripping & super entertaining”
The supporting ensemble — Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan and Arjun Rampal — has also drawn strong praise, with several viewers describing the cast as a “powerhouse” that elevates the material.
Advance bookings had already indicated robust interest in major urban centres and single-screen strongholds in the Hindi heartland. The uniformly enthusiastic word-of-mouth from morning shows is likely ensures a strong Friday and an even bigger weekend, provided walk-ins materialise as expected.
Pre-release, the film faced headwinds ranging from online “cancel culture” campaigns to a police complaint in Karnataka over an alleged mimicry of a scene from Kantara. Yami Gautam, Mr Dhar’s wife and a co-producer on the project, had publicly urged audiences to judge the film on its merits rather than social-media narratives.
Trade analysts will be watching occupancy figures closely through the weekend. A sustained positive trend could push Dhurandhar past the ₹100-crore mark domestically in its extended five-day opening (including the partial holiday on Monday for Guru Nanak Jayanti in several states), a threshold that has proved elusive for several big-budget Hindi releases in 2025.
For Ranveer Singh, absent from the big screen as a solo lead since 2023, the early reception offers a timely boost. Industry sources suggest his remuneration on the project, including a profit-sharing component, places considerable upside on a successful run.
As one X user succinctly put it this morning: “Tsunami loading.” Whether that wave translates into box-office records will become clearer by Sunday evening. For now, the initial public verdict is unequivocal: Dhurandhar has landed with force.
