The ‘Dhurandhar’ Duology Review: A Pair of Vicious Action Blockbusters Cement Bollywood’s Bleak Transformation

Mar 26, 2026 6:09pm PT The ‘Dhurandhar’ Duology Review: A Pair of Vicious Action Blockbusters Cement Bollywood’s Bleak Transformation The first half of Aditya Dhar’s spy saga is on Netflix, while the sequel sets the box office ablaze. By Siddhant Adlakha Plus Icon Siddhant Adlakha Latest ‘They Will Kill You’ Review: A Fiery Revenge Farce Crashes and Burns 1 week ago ‘Brian’ Review: A Hilarious High-School Comedy With Dark Jokes and Multiple Meltdowns 1 week ago ‘Wishful Thinking’ Review: Lewis Pullman and Maya Hawke Lead a Kooky, Enthralling Romantic Fantasy 1 week ago See All Upon its December release, Aditya Dhar ’s gloomy espionage thriller “ Dhurandhar ” went on to become the highest grossing Hindi-language film in India. Now in cinemas, its follow-up “ Dhurandhar: The Revenge ” is poised to equal if not surpass it, marking a potentially permanent, and in some ways concerning shift in what rules the hearts and minds of Bollywood viewers. The spy series — which began as a single film before being cleaved late into production — is a brazen, blood-soaked saga that nakedly preys on jingoistic sentiment and fawns at the foot of government power. However, it’s not without its merits as a work of cinematic sensationalism, which makes it unique even in an industry that has long cozied up to the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and his ruling party, the BJP. Related Stories Viola Davis on Her Meme-Worthy Moment at the Actor Awards and Why She Wanted to Write Crime Fiction With Courtroom Thriller 'Judge Stone'