Senior journalist Barkha Dutt has shared a glowing review of director Aditya Dhar’s latest film, Dhurandhar, describing it as a “gripping watch” and a return to big-canvas cinema. Taking to social media platform X, Dutt praised the film’s execution, stating it was masterfully made specifically for the theatre experience.

Dutt highlighted the film’s ability to handle a large scale, noting that it felt like a significant cinematic event after years of smaller productions. She was particularly impressed by the detailed set design, noting the difficulty for an Indian filmmaker to recreate settings based almost entirely in Karachi. According to her review, the political rallies and bazaars were recreated with “effective detail.”

Stellar Performances

The journalist offered high praise for the ensemble cast. She described the acting of Akshaye Khanna and Rakesh Bedi as “knockout performances.” Regarding the lead, she noted Ranveer Singh’s “complete intense surrender” to his character.

Other cast members also received special mentions. R. Madhavan was praised for his “understated and fine rendition” of NSA Ajit Doval, while Arjun Rampal was described as “menacing” in his role representing the ISI. Dutt also pointed out the “dramatic softness” brought by Gaurav Gera, who plays a ‘juice-wallah’ asset in the narrative.

Music and Narrative Context

Dutt termed the film’s music a “big hero,” appreciating the mix of repurposed classics, techno-rap qawwalis, and fresh tracks. She predicted the soundtrack is designed to trigger viral trends at weddings throughout the year.

Addressing potential political sensitivities, Dutt firmly stated that the film contains nothing against Indian Muslims. She emphasized that the narrative focuses strictly on Pakistan’s state patronage of terrorism.

“Conflating an adversary like Pakistan with India’s Muslims is an insult to our own people. Btw I watched the movie with, among others, two Muslim friends who enjoyed it as much as I did.” — Barkha Dutt

Minor Critiques

While the overall verdict was positive, Dutt pointed out a few minor issues. She expressed that she did not enjoy the “love angle” in the film, expecting it to be more strategic rather than a traditional romance. She also noted that the intercutting of real footage with fiction might send viewers back to research books to verify timelines, though she conceded that it is ultimately a movie, not a documentary.

Concluding her review, she called Dhurandhar a compelling and “mazedaar” watch, congratulating Aditya Dhar and his team for creating a larger-than-life experience.

Finally watched #Dhurandhar -and what a gripping watch and masterfully made film !!! After years, it felt a like a return of a big canvas film, with a riveting ensemble cast, a movie made for the theatre.

Here’s what worked superbly

Performances- Knockout performance by…

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) December 15, 2025