Ram Gopal Varma Hails ‘Dhurandhar’ as a Game-Changer, Calls It a “Scary Dog” for Bollywood

Renowned filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has lauded Aditya Dhar’s latest release “Dhurandhar”, calling it one of the most talked-about films in the past 50 years. In an extensive social media post, Varma described the film as a revolutionary work that the industry tends to ignore because it challenges conventional filmmaking norms.

Varma wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Whenever a film like Dhurandhar releases—a groundbreaking and critically acclaimed work—the industry perceives it as a threat and prefers to overlook it.” The film, starring Ranveer Singh, is based on the Lyari area of Karachi and has captured audiences with its gritty storytelling.

Drawing an analogy, Varma compared Dhurandhar to a “scary dog” that everyone sees but pretends to ignore: “Just like when we see a huge, terrifying dog outside someone’s house, we know it won’t harm us, but the anxiety remains. Dhurandhar is that monstrous dog circulating invisibly in every production house where big films are being made. Filmmakers may avoid naming it, but it remains in their minds.”

He further remarked that the movie serves as a “horror film” for filmmakers relying on expensive VFX, grand sets, item songs, and hero-centric templates. In contrast, Dhurandhar celebrates the film itself, making traditional masala filmmakers confront their outdated formulas.

The film has also been a commercial juggernaut. Since its release on 5th December, it has earned ₹633.50 crore domestically, pushing its worldwide earnings close to ₹1,000 crore. Alongside Ranveer Singh, the film features Akshay Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and Soumya Tandon.

Varma’s post underscores how Dhurandhar is not just a cinematic success but a cultural moment that forces the industry to reassess its approach to storytelling, star worship, and film production.