Dhurandhar (2025) Review: A Long, Loud Undercover Spy Saga

This Dhurandhar review starts with a simple warning: the film is big, loud and very long. Aditya Dhar's spy action drama runs 214 minutes and spends almost all of them inside Karachi's criminal underworld. It is not subtle, but it has swagger.

Dhurandhar Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Dhurandhar plot is set in the early 2000s. A mysterious outsider, played by Ranveer Singh, infiltrates the gangs of Karachi and starts climbing their ranks. His mission is to break a violent nexus from the inside, and that means earning the trust of dangerous people.

The setup is clean and easy to follow. The film introduces its handlers, its gangsters and its lawmen early, then lets the undercover game unfold slowly. Aditya Dhar wrote and directed, so the tone stays consistent from start to finish.

I will not go beyond the opening act. What matters is that the premise gives the film plenty of tension. Every conversation carries the risk of exposure.

What Works in Dhurandhar

The biggest strength is atmosphere. The film builds a gritty, dangerous city where power shifts quickly and loyalty is always for sale. As an action and adventure film, it keeps its scenes tense and its stakes personal.

The violence is heavier than most mainstream Bollywood fare, though audience reactions suggest it is not excessive. It serves the story rather than overwhelming it.

The film also has a strong pulpy streak. One viewer compared the hero to Tommy Vercetti from Grand Theft Auto, and the comparison fits: a rising outsider in a neon-lit criminal world. If you enjoy that kind of crime-ladder storytelling, you will find plenty to like. For more in this vein, browse our Action movie reviews.

Dhurandhar Cast and Performances

The Dhurandhar cast is stacked, and the film knows it.

• Ranveer Singh plays Hamza Ali Mazari / Jaskirat Singh Rangi. He is more restrained and vulnerable than usual, though the showman still surfaces.

• Akshaye Khanna plays Rehman Dakait, a menacing presence in the underworld.

• R. Madhavan plays Ajay Sanyal.

• Arjun Rampal plays Major Iqbal.

• Sanjay Dutt plays SP Chaudhary Aslam.

• Sara Arjun plays Yalina Jamali.

Singh anchors the film with a more grounded turn that suits a man living under a false identity. The supporting names bring weight and screen presence to every scene they enter. Few characters feel like filler, which is a real achievement in a cast this large.

Where Dhurandhar Stumbles

The runtime is the obvious problem. At three and a half hours, the film tests patience, and some stretches would work better tighter. A more disciplined edit would have sharpened the tension.

The final stretch also leans on risky bets and a measure of plot armour, as one viewer noted. The hero escapes trouble a little too neatly at times. That is forgivable in a genre thriller, but it weakens the realism the early scenes build.

Finally, the film is deliberately macho. Its testosterone-heavy tone will not suit everyone, and viewers who dislike that style may find it wearing.

Is Dhurandhar Worth Watching?

Yes, if you are happy to commit to a long, intense spy thriller. Dhurandhar delivers a confident premise, a strong ensemble and plenty of grit. Audience scores around 7.3 out of 10 on TMDB reflect that: it is good, not phenomenal.

The Dhurandhar release date was 5 December 2025, and the film is in Hindi. It is not rated, but the violence and mature themes make it a poor pick for younger viewers. If you want a tighter crime story, try our Crime movie reviews. For more adventure picks, see our Adventure movie reviews.

Who Will Enjoy Dhurandhar

• Fans of undercover thrillers and gangster sagas who do not mind a long runtime.

• Ranveer Singh followers curious to see a more grounded side of his acting.

• Viewers who enjoy star-packed Hindi action films with a pulpy edge.

For details on the film, see its Wikipedia page.