Dhurandhar Review: Ranveer Excels in Gritty Spy Saga

Dhurandhar-Part 1, directed by Aditya Dhar, follows an Indian spy infiltrating Pakistani gangsters post the 1999 Kandahar hijack. Ranveer Singh shines as the undercover agent alongside stellar acts from Akshaye Khanna and R. Madhavan. Packed with strong performances, authentic direction, and adrenaline rushes, but dragged by lengthy runtime and excessive gore. A decent espionage thriller that feels like a detailed web series on big screen.

IN SHORTDhurandhar-Part 1, directed by Aditya Dhar, follows an Indian spy infiltrating Pakistani gangsters post the 1999 Kandahar hijack. Ranveer Singh shines as the undercover agent alongside stellar acts from Akshaye Khanna and R. Madhavan. Packed with strong performances, authentic direction, and adrenaline rushes, but dragged by lengthy runtime and excessive gore. A decent espionage thriller that feels like a detailed web series on big screen.

Spy thrillers have always been my guilty pleasure—the tension, the double lives, the high stakes—and Dhurandhar-Part 1 hooked me right from the Kandahar hijack opener. Released December 5, 2025, this Aditya Dhar directorial infiltrates Ranveer Singh as Jaskirat Singh Rangi aka Hamza Ali Mazari into Akshaye Khanna's gangster world in Pakistan. Ranveer's transformation is breathtaking; those emotional layers had me tearing up, reminding me of my own "undercover" phases dodging deadlines! Madhavan's poised IB chief and Khanna's chilling villain elevate everything—Khanna's arguably career-best.

Music by Shashwat Sachdev fuses 80s-90s hits brilliantly, cinematography feels raw and real. But oh, the 3.5-hour runtime tests patience with dragged sequences and over-the-top gore; climax action drags forever. It's part one of a franchise, ending on a teaser for March 2026's backstory reveal.

In my view, if you love detailed, authentic espionage over fast-paced, this is gripping—though web-series vibe might suit OTT better. Decent watch for performances alone, but trim it and it'd be masterpiece.

TL;DR

Ranveer Singh delivers top-notch performance as undercover spy Hamza Ali Mazari with believable action and emotional depth.
Akshaye Khanna stuns as gangster Rehman Dakait in arguably his career-best role with menacing presence.
R Madhavan excels as IB chief Ajay Sanyal especially in intense opening sequences.
Direction by Aditya Dhar maintains authentic realistic feel throughout espionage drama.
Music and background score blend modern tracks with 80s-90s Bollywood hits effectively.
Cinematography provides stunning raw visuals capturing Pakistan and Balochistan settings.
Adrenaline-pumping episodes keep engagement high every 20 minutes or so.
Lengthy runtime over 3.5 hours with dragged sequences tests audience patience.
Excessive gore and prolonged climax action feel overdone and tiring.
Film sets up franchise with part two promising lead character's full backstory.