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Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha has hailed director Aditya Dhar’s “Dhurandhar” as an “absolute masterpiece,” dismissing criticisms that labeled the film as propaganda. The action thriller, which hit theaters in December 2025, has generated significant buzz in Bollywood circles with its polarizing narrative that continues to spark debate among audiences and critics alike.
In a detailed review posted on social media platform X, Sinha emphasized that the film should be appreciated for its artistic merits rather than being reduced to political messaging. “What ‘propaganda’ film??? A film is a film is a film,” Sinha wrote, praising the production’s technical brilliance and entertainment value.
The veteran actor highlighted the film’s impressive production design, noting that scenes set in Pakistan were convincingly recreated in Bangkok, Thailand. “The sets have been created beautifully in a very realistic manner,” he observed, adding particular praise for the cinematography and editing that contributed to making the film “a visual delight.”
Sinha’s review focused heavily on the performances, singling out Ranveer Singh’s portrayal of undercover agent Hamza Ali Mazari as “outstanding.” He commended Sanjay Dutt, referring to him as the “worthy son of the most worthy father late and great Sunil Dutt,” and praised Akshaye Khanna for creating “his own identity” with a “flawless performance” as the real-life gangster Rehman Dakait.
The social media post also highlighted character actor Rakesh Bedi’s contribution as “the icing on the cake,” crediting him with “a wonderful and amazing role with a fine balancing act.” Sinha expressed admiration for the music and choreography, describing songs like “Shararat” and “Ishq Jalakar-Karvaan” as “euphoric” and “foot tapping with great repeat value.”
“Dhurandhar” boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring several prominent Bollywood figures. R Madhavan plays Indian spymaster Ajay Sanyal, while Arjun Rampal portrays ISI Major Iqbal, a character reportedly inspired by terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri. The film also marks the debut of actor Sara Arjun opposite Ranveer Singh, with supporting roles from Manav Gohil, Gaurav Gera, Danish Pandor, Raj Zutshi, and Saumya Tandon.
The movie has emerged as one of the most discussed Indian films of early 2026, with its blend of espionage thriller elements and nationalistic themes generating both acclaim and controversy. Industry analysts note that “Dhurandhar” follows a recent trend in Bollywood of high-budget action films with patriotic undertones, which have performed well at the box office despite mixed critical reception.
This isn’t the first time director Aditya Dhar has courted both commercial success and controversy. His previous works have often centered on themes of national security and counterterrorism operations, earning him a reputation for technically accomplished filmmaking with strong political viewpoints.
Shatrughan Sinha’s endorsement comes at a time when the debate around political messaging in Indian cinema has intensified. Several prominent filmmakers have defended their right to explore nationalist themes, while critics have raised concerns about the line between patriotic storytelling and political propaganda.
“Dhurandhar” is currently available for streaming on Netflix, where it continues to attract viewership and discussion, reflecting the film’s enduring impact on Indian cinema and cultural discourse.
The film’s commercial success, coupled with its polarizing reception, highlights the evolving landscape of Indian cinema, where high-production value action thrillers with nationalistic themes have carved out a significant market share in recent years.
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8 Comments
I’m curious to learn more about this film ‘Dhurandhar’ and the controversy surrounding it. Sinha makes a fair point that we shouldn’t dismiss it as mere propaganda and should evaluate it on its artistic merits. The recreation of Pakistani scenes in Bangkok sounds impressive.
Sinha’s praise for the production design and cinematography of ‘Dhurandhar’ is noteworthy. While the film’s narrative may be polarizing, it seems the technical execution has been well-received. I’m curious to see how this plays out in the broader critical and public reception.
Agreed, the technical aspects of a film are often overlooked when the narrative is deemed controversial. Sinha’s perspective provides a useful balance in evaluating ‘Dhurandhar’ more holistically.
Sinha’s praise for the technical aspects of ‘Dhurandhar,’ such as the production design and cinematography, is compelling. Even if the narrative is polarizing, it seems the film has some strong craftsmanship behind it. I’m curious to see how this balances out the ‘propaganda’ claims.
Shatrughan Sinha’s review provides an interesting counterpoint to the ‘propaganda’ claims against ‘Dhurandhar.’ As a veteran actor, his assessment of the film’s technical quality and Ranveer Singh’s performance carries weight. It will be interesting to see how audiences receive the film.
Interesting to see the veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha come out in support of the film ‘Dhurandhar.’ While the movie seems to have sparked a lot of debate, his praise for the technical aspects and performances suggests it may have more substance than just propaganda.
It’s fascinating to see how a veteran actor like Sinha is approaching this ‘Dhurandhar’ film. His emphasis on the artistic merits rather than just the political messaging suggests there may be more nuance to the movie than the ‘propaganda’ label implies.
That’s a fair assessment. Sinha’s review highlights the importance of looking beyond just the controversial elements and considering the overall filmmaking quality. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the broader discussion around the movie.