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Dhurandhar: The Revenge

Dhurandhar: The Revenge, also referred as Dhurandhar 2, is a 2026 Indian Hindi-language spy action-thriller film written and directed by Aditya Dhar. It is produced by Dhar, Lokesh Dhar, and Jyoti Deshpande under Jio Studios and B62 Studios. It is a sequel to the 2025 film Dhurandhar and the final installment of a duology. The film stars Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Gaurav Gera, Danish Pandor, and Manav Gohil, with several actors reprising their roles from the first film. It follows an undercover Indian intelligence agent who continues to infiltrate Karachi's criminal syndicates and Pakistani politics while avenging the 26/11 attacks and confronting larger threats.

Plot
In 2000, Hamza Ali Mazari, then known as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, leaves his hometown of Pathankot to undergo military training. During his absence, a violent land dispute involving local MLA Sukhwinder Singh leads to attacks on his family: his father is hanged and his sisters both gang raped, with his elder sister Harleen murdered and younger sister Jasleen abducted. Upon returning, Jaskirat, with the help of his friend Gurbaaz, murders Sukhwinder and the rest of his gang, and rescues Jasleen. He is subsequently arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. Before his incarceration, he entrusts Jasleen's future to Gurbaaz. In 2002, Jaskirat is abducted during a prison transfer and brought before intelligence officials Ajay Sanyal and Sushant Bansal. By 2004, he is recruited into a covert programme to infiltrate Pakistani terror networks, given the identity of Hamza Ali Mazari, and deployed to Kabul, where he severs ties with his past and operates under handler Mohammed Aalam. By 2009, following the death of Rehman Dakait in Lyari, Hamza manipulates local factions to ignite a conflict between the Baloch and Pathan gangs, resulting in the death of Pathan gang leader Arshad Pappu and the arrest of Rehman's cousin brother Uzair Baloch, consolidating Hamza's influence in Karachi while advancing his mission. His actions draw him into the inner circle of "Bade Sahab" Dawood Ibrahim, who tasks him with facilitating narcotics operations to fund military operations. A group of Punjabi rebels is brought in to assist, including Gurbaaz, unknown to Hamza. During a party at Hamza's house, an intoxicated Gurbaaz confronts him and threatens to reveal his identity to the others, leading to a fight that ends with Gurbaaz dead. Aalam arrives to cover up the incident; when he is discovered, Hamza executes him in front of the guests. As suspicion grows, SP Chaudhary Aslam begins investigating Hamza but is killed in a suicide attack orchestrated by Hamza through the Balochistan United Force (BUF). Yalina uncovers Hamza's true identity and confronts him, but agrees to remain silent for the sake of their son, Zayan. Sanyal grants Hamza autonomy to dismantle the remaining terror network, leading him to assassinate several key operatives including terror financier Javed Khanani and IC 814 hijacker Zahoor Mistry. Meanwhile, Aslam's second-in-command Omar uncovers Hamza's true identity by extorting Yalina after holding Zayan at gunpoint, and informs Major Iqbal. When Dawood plans an attack on India, Hamza travels to Iqbal's madrassa to deliver weapons; during their meeting, Iqbal confronts Hamza as an Indian spy and stabs him, but a bomb planted by Hamza and the BUF in the weapons crates kills multiple militants. A firefight ensues between Iqbal's Mujahideen and the BUF (disguised as Pakistan Rangers); Hamza destroys Iqbal's transport with an RPG, has the BUF level the madrassa, and pursues Iqbal to a shipping yard, where they fight until Hamza kills Iqbal in a kerosene tanker explosion. After a final phone call with Yalina, Hamza is captured and tortured by Omar, until Sanyal coerces his release by blackmailing the head of Pakistani intelligence, Shamshad Hassan, with evidence of his dealings with Israeli intelligence. Uzair is used as a scapegoat and framed as India's spy. Hamza is picked up by his father-in-law Jameel Jamali, who reveals himself as a longtime Indian asset who had been slowly poisoning Dawood while embedded in his network. Having completed his mission, Hamza abandons his alias, being forced to leave Yalina and their son behind for the sake of their wellbeing, and returns to India as Jaskirat Singh Rangi. Though commended for his service, Jaskirat disappears before his formal debriefing and returns to his childhood home, which he wistfully gazes from afar. In the mid-credits scene, flashbacks depict Jaskirat's training with the Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW). In the post-credits scene, Shamshad orders Omar into a mental asylum after he threatens to reveal Shamshad's release of Hamza to the National Assembly. == Cast ==
Production
The sequel was developed as the second and final installment of the Dhurandhar duology. Initially planned as a single film, the filmmakers later decided on a two-part release. Both parts were shot concurrently as a single production. The decision to divide the film was made during post-production, owing to the volume of footage and narrative complexity. Principal photography for both films took place between July 2024 and October 2025 across India and Thailand. Additional filming for the second part took place in January and February 2026. == Music ==
Music
The soundtrack was composed by Shashwat Sachdev, with lyrics written by Irshad Kamil and Kumaar. The music rights were acquired by T-Series for ₹27 crore, replacing Saregama. The song "Aaahh Men!" by Doja Cat was featured in the teaser released on 3 February 2026, and also appears in the film. The first single, "Aari Aari", was released on 12 March 2026. The song is a remix of the 2003 eponymous track by Danish musical duo Bombay Rockers and featured in the film's trailer. The second single, "Main Aur Tu", was released on 17 March 2026. The full album was launched the same day at the NESCO Centre in Mumbai. An extended album with eleven additional tracks was released on 24 March 2026. Reviewers generally found the soundtrack effective in enhancing the film's impact, though some noted it fell short of the energy of the first film's score. == Marketing ==
Marketing
A post-credits scene in the first instalment revealed the title and release date for the sequel. Initial reports suggested the teaser would be screened alongside Border 2 in theatres on 30 January 2026, but this did not materialise. The official teaser was released on 3 February 2026, using footage that had also appeared in the post-credits scene of the first part. The official trailer was released on 7 March 2026. == Release ==
Release
Theatrical Dhurandhar: The Revenge was released worldwide on 19 March 2026, coinciding with Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, and Eid al-Fitr. Alongside its original Hindi language, it was also released in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. The film received an A (adults only) certificate from the CBFC for strong violence, with a final runtime of 229 minutes after some violent scenes and profanities were cut. Overseas screenings ran for 235 minutes. Paid preview shows were scheduled on the evening of 18 March in all languages, though several screenings were delayed or cancelled; Kannada and Malayalam shows were particularly affected by technical and censorship-related issues. Like its predecessor, the film was banned across Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Home media The post-theatrical digital streaming rights were acquired by JioHotstar for ₹150 crore, replacing Netflix, which had held the rights for the first film. == Reception ==
Reception
Critical response Dhurandhar: The Revenge received mixed reviews from critics. The Hindustan Times, reporting on 25 March 2026 when Rotten Tomatoes had 13 total reviews, found all five positive reviews came from Indian publications or reviewers, while many reviews from international publications criticised the film for both its violence and politics. Nicolas Rapold, writing for The New York Times, said the film "amps up the ultraviolence and the provocative mingling of heroic theatrics with India-Pakistan history." Sowmya Rajendran, writing for Newslaundry, noted that despite its pro-establishment messaging the first film worked across ideological lines due to strong storytelling, and found the sequel "angrier, louder, and more blatant in its messaging" and "emptier". Shahana Yasmin of The Independent wrote that for some viewers the blend of history and mythmaking creates an immersive patriotic thriller, while for others it blurs the line between history and propaganda. IGN reviewer Siddhant Adlakha characterised the film as "in favor of naked political propaganda". Agnivo Niyogi, writing for The Telegraph, wrote the film "has more gore, more violence and brazen propaganda" and "lacks the finesse that Dhurandhar at least could boast of." Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, saying its emotional core distinguished it from the spectacle. Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times rated it 4 out of 5, describing it as "a roller-coaster thriller that may not match the first film's precision but is elevated by Ranveer Singh's powerful performance and a gripping second half." Radhika Sharma of NDTV rated it 3 out of 5. Divya Nair of Rediff.com gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, calling it "an engaging, twist-filled entertainer with layered storytelling and strong impact, despite its politics, gore, and inconsistencies." Chirag Sehgal of News18 rated it 3.5 out of 5, noting a gripping plot with several narrative twists. Nandini Ramnath, writing for Scroll, compared the film to Marco, L2: Empuraan, and K.G.F: Chapter 2, but with what she described as pro-government propaganda woven into the action. Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave the film 2 out of 5, writing that it fails to match the first part and that the hyper-nationalism and hyper-masculinity quickly blur together. Vineeta Kumar of India Today awarded 3.5 out of 5 stars, calling it "loud, unapologetic, and absolutely certain of itself" while crediting the film with a consistent cinematic voice. Renuka Vyavahare of The Times of India rated it 3 out of 5, describing it as "a relentless action extravaganza teetering on excess." Mayank Shekhar of Mid-Day rated it 3.5 out of 5. Sajin Shrijith of The Week rated it 3.5 out of 5, finding the film "longer and paced differently compared to its predecessor," with the third act feeling stretched. Nonika Singh of The Tribune gave the film 3 out of 5, writing that violence is "its default setting." Tatsam Mukherjee of The Wire wrote that the film uses real-life traumas to fuel ideological messaging that is "less fictitious than Dhar and his crew would care to address." Anuj Kumar of The Hindu wrote that the film "roars, but in its deafening cocktail of patriotism and propaganda, it forgets the quiet cost of humanity." Mamta Raut of Mashable India called the film "a paradox," describing it as a competently executed spy thriller that "leans heavily into propaganda." Lachmi Deb Roy of Firstpost rated it 3.5 out of 5, calling it "engaging, immersive, and ferociously intense" while noting the action was purposeful rather than gratuitous. Devesh Sharma of Filmfare.com gave 3.5 out of 5, describing the film as "a loud, gory, hyper-nationalistic spectacle that storms in with scale and swagger but forgets the value of brevity." Kartik Bhardwaj of Cinema Express labelled it "a masterful, stylish piece of mythmaking that mixes gripping storytelling with heavy political messaging." Gayatri Nirmal of Pinkvilla praised the execution while observing that the second chapter "feels slightly sluggish" and the background score does not match the impact of the first instalment. Srujani Mohinta of Zee News described it as fitting the category of a mass entertainer with emotionally charged sequences. Sneha Bengani of CNBC TV18 called it a spectacle-heavy sequel driven by Ranveer Singh's screen presence but weighed down by thin characterisation and an excessive runtime. Sakshi Salil Chavan of Outlook gave 2 out of 5 stars, writing that the film "leans heavily into gore, violence and strong pro-government messaging" but "falls short of recreating the rich worldbuilding that defined the first film." Box office Dhurandhar: The Revenge grossed over worldwide, becoming the second-highest-grossing Indian film of all time. It collected in India and in overseas market without releasing in GCC countries and China. It eventually became the second-highest-grossing Hindi-language film worldwide, the highest-grossing Hindi-language film domestically, the third-highest-grossing film in India, the highest-grossing Indian film of 2026 and the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2026 overall worldwide The film grossed ₹75 crore from paid previews on 18th March 2026, a day before the official release of the film, breaking the previous Indian record held by Stree 2 (2024) and They Call Him OG (2025). The film earned ₹130–174 crore on its opening day 19th March 2026, 196–240 crore worldwide including the previous day's premieres. This marked the highest opening day for a Bollywood film, surpassing the previous record held by Adipurush. It was the first Indian film to earn more than 100 crore in a single day of Hindi net collections on two consecutive days, Saturday and Sunday of its opening weekend. The film topped the US box office on its opening day with $3.9 million. The global opening weekend gross was over $80 million, only behind Project Hail Mary. surpassing Baahubali 2: The Conclusion $20.78 million lifetime record in the region. The film surpassed the lifetime collections of the first part in 11 days, reaching ₹1,365 crore worldwide. It also became the highest-grossing Indian film in Australia. Dhurandhar The Revenge became the first Hindi film to cross 100 crore in Karnataka state. By 8 April, it became the first Indian film to cross 1,000 crore in Hindi net collections alone, making it the highest-grossing Indian film in Hindi net domestically. The film has become the highest-grossing A-rated Indian film surpassing Dhurandhar, the highest-grossing Indian film of 2026 and the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2026 overall. By the end of fourth weekend, the film crossed 1700 crore worldwide. India Today reported that Dhurandhar: The Revenge has emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film worldwide excluding China and GCC countries; where the film wasn't released.{{Cite news |title= Biggest Indian grosser excluding China, Gulf box office |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/dhurandhar-2-the-revenge-25-day-run-ranveer-singh-film-biggest-indian-grosser-excluding-china-gulf-box-office-2895378-2026-04-13 |access-date=13 April 2026|website=India Today == Factual accuracy and political messaging ==
Factual accuracy and political messaging
The film opens with a disclaimer stating that it is a work of fiction inspired by real events and should not be construed as an accurate depiction of historical fact. Despite this, the film incorporates several real-life terrorist attacks on India into its plot Several reviewers questioned the accuracy of specific factual claims. Dainik Bhaskar reported that the film's depiction of the Atiq Ahmed-based character as involved in a counterfeit currency racket was contradicted by chargesheets filed by Uttar Pradesh Police, and that the film's timeline of events surrounding his arrest was incorrect. The film also presents as established fact an unproven claim linking that character to weapons smuggling connected with Lashkar-e-Taiba and the ISI. The Federal noted that no documentation corroborated any Pakistani link beyond statements by Uttar Pradesh Police. The Indian Express described the director's approach as blending real events with fiction as a deliberate storytelling device. The Federal found that the film implies membership of any party opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is tantamount to receiving Pakistani funding. Nissim Mannathukkaren, writing for The Hindu, argued that the film conflates the ruling party with the state, rendering other forms of political violence invisible while spectacularising nationalist violence. Prathyush Parasuraman, writing for Frontline, argued that the film instrumentalises both Pakistani and Indian minorities within a nationalist framework. Siddhant Adlakha, writing for IGN, argued that the film's repeated incorporation of real political events into its fictional narrative risks inflaming tensions around India-Pakistan relations and the treatment of Indian Muslims. Vineeta Kumar, writing for India Today, argued that the film's target is Pakistani state-sponsored terrorism rather than Pakistan or Muslims broadly, and that its position aligns with that of the Indian government. The Independent reported divided audience opinion and suggested the film's commercial success may reinforce hypermasculine nationalism as a durable formula in mainstream Hindi cinema. "pro-government propaganda", and "brazen propaganda". Not all commentators accepted the propaganda characterisation. Yasser Usman, writing for NDTV, argued the film should be understood within the tradition of the Bollywood masala film rather than treated as a political manifesto. Nirmalya Dutta, writing for The Times of India, questioned whether the propaganda label was being applied consistently across films. Writing for Open, a commentator argued that similarly partial readings could be applied to acclaimed Western films such as Saving Private Ryan and Zero Dark Thirty. == Impact ==
Impact
The dialogue "Mera Baccha Hai Tu" (), spoken by the character Jameel Jamali (Rakesh Bedi) in both Dhurandhar films, gained circulation on social media and in memes and short-form video content. Several brands and agencies, including Delhi Police, Wai Wai, Haldiram's, and Vadilal, adapted the dialogue for marketing campaigns. == Notes ==
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