Dhurandhar On Netflix

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Lazybatman
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Dhurandhar

After weeks of memes, hot takes and box office numbers flying around, Dhurandhar has finally landed on Netflix – and my recommendation is simple: watch it, but go in prepared. This is a 3‑and‑a‑half‑hour espionage thriller that throws you into Karachi’s criminal underbelly with an Indian spy who is in way too deep, morally and physically.

Ranveer Singh plays Hamza Ali Mazari (aka RAW agent Jaskirat Singh Rangi), infiltrating the Lyari mafia and Pakistan’s power corridors to dismantle a terror network targeting India. What follows is not a sleek, sanitised action film; it’s mud, blood, politics and paranoia, stretched across 214 minutes of high‑decibel cinema.

Plot And World‑Building: Welcome To Lyari Hell

“Dhurandhar” is set largely in Karachi, where Hamza embeds himself inside the Lyari gangs and their political patrons. The film mixes real‑world inspired events with fictional operations, so you constantly feel like you’re one news headline away from this becoming a documentary.

The world‑building is where the movie shines:

  • Karachi’s lanes, ports and hideouts are shot with a gritty, almost documentary‑like eye, making the city feel like a character.

  • Every faction – gangsters, cops, intelligence agencies, politicians – has its own ecosystem and internal politics, which the screenplay keeps weaving together.

  • The tension rarely drops; even dialogue scenes feel like someone might get shot mid‑sentence.

If you like “lived‑in” crime worlds like “Gangs of Wasseypur” or “Sacred Games”, this will feel right up your alley, just more national‑security and less small‑town feuds.

Performances: Ranveer Goes Rogue, Akshaye Steals Scenes

This is very much Ranveer Singh’s playground, but the supporting cast refuses to stay in the background.

  • Ranveer Singh (Hamza/Jaskirat): Delivers a layered performance, shifting from disciplined agent to broken, near‑unhinged operative as the mission eats away at him.

  • Akshaye Khanna (Rehman Dakait): The primary antagonist, a ruthless gang leader, gets some of the most chilling scenes and has been compared by some critics to iconic villains like Hans Landa and Anton Chigurh.​

  • Sanjay Dutt (SP Chaudhary Aslam): Plays a hard‑boiled cop known as “The Jinn,” adding old‑school swagger and weary gravitas.

  • R. Madhavan and Arjun Rampal: Represent the higher echelons of power and security, anchoring the geopolitical side of the conflict.

The only weak link many viewers point out is the romantic track between Ranveer and Sara Arjun’s character – it feels undercooked in a story that otherwise thrives on sharp edges.

Craft: Violence, Score And That Never‑Ending Runtime

Let’s address the elephant in the room – this film is long. At around 214 minutes, “Dhurandhar” demands full commitment and a decent attention span. Some critics call the runtime indulgent and complain about occasional dry stretches, especially because this is positioned as the first part of a two‑film saga.

On the flip side, the craft departments are firing on all cylinders:

  • Action: The violence is brutal and often graphic, with set‑pieces that feel more like survival horror than heroic swagger.

  • Music & Score: Shashwat Sachdev’s background score keeps the anxiety dialled up, adding pulse to even quieter scenes.​

  • Cinematography: Vikash Nowlakha’s visuals make the world look cinematic yet raw, from cramped safehouses to expansive cityscapes.

  • Makeup & Prosthetics: The physical damage characters take feels disturbingly real and has been praised within the industry.​

If you’re sensitive to graphic violence, this one will test your limits; the term “torture porn” has been thrown around by a section of critics for a reason.

Why “Dhurandhar” Is So Controversial (And Trending Anyway)

Here’s where it gets interesting: while critics are split, audiences are all‑in.

  • The film has an IMDb rating around 8.5–8.6, with many users calling it the best Hindi film of 2025.

  • It raced past ₹550 crore worldwide within days of release and set records for second‑weekend box office.​

  • Post its OTT debut, it shot to the No. 1 spot on Netflix in India and even trended in Pakistan despite theatrical issues there.

So why the drama?

  • Some critics see it as overtly nationalistic, with heavy patriotic messaging that occasionally overpowers nuance.

  • Others feel the film glorifies violence and uses real‑world tensions as a backdrop for “high‑voltage entertainment” without enough reflection.

  • Then there’s the runtime debate: many argue this would have been sharper and more impactful at 2.5 hours instead of 3.5.

In short, you’re watching not just a movie but a conversation piece that sits right at the intersection of politics, nationalism and mainstream Bollywood spectacle.

Should You Watch Dhurandhar On Netflix?

If you enjoy dark espionage thrillers, morally grey protagonists and cinema that doesn’t flinch from showing violence, “Dhurandhar” is absolutely worth your time. Just don’t treat it like a chill weeknight watch – this is more “clear your schedule, keep your phone away and maybe pause halfway for chai” kind of viewing.

However, you might want to skip or approach with caution if:

  • You’re sensitive to graphic gore and scenes of torture.

  • You dislike jingoistic or politically loaded narratives.

  • You prefer tight, under‑2‑hour films over sprawling epics.

Personally, I’d describe “Dhurandhar” as a flawed but fascinating experience – the kind of film that might exhaust you, but will stay in your head the next morning. And judging by its box office run and Netflix dominance, this is just the beginning; the second part is almost guaranteed, and the debates are not dying anytime soon.

Sources & Further Reading

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