Rs 52.7 crore before the movie even officially released. That’s not a box office number — that’s a verdict before the trial.
Dhurandhar 2 hit theatres today after advance booking numbers that broke every record, and the question everyone’s actually Googling isn’t “what’s it about” — it’s “do I spend Rs 300 and four hours of my life on this?” This Dhurandhar 2 review cuts through the noise. Ram Gopal Varma called it “Sholay x 100.” Fans on Twitter are predicting Rs 1,000 crore. But hype has lied to us before.
So here’s the honest take. No PR-speak, no fan wars.
Our Dhurandhar 2 Review: The First Half Hits Hard
Let’s get this out of the way — Ranveer Singh delivers. The paid preview crowd wasn’t being polite. The first 50 minutes are genuinely gripping, the kind of opening that makes you forget you’re sitting in a theatre seat that costs more than your lunch.
R. Madhavan adds real firepower as the antagonist this time around, and the dynamic between him and Ranveer creates the tension that Dhurandhar 1 sometimes struggled with. Aditya Dhar — the guy who gave us URI — clearly knows how to stage a set piece. The action sequences feel massive without feeling fake. Early Dhurandhar 2 audience reaction has been overwhelmingly positive about these sequences.
Part 1 grossed Rs 1,300 crore worldwide, and the sequel’s first half feels like it earned every rupee of that franchise trust.
But here’s the thing about first halves. They’re easy to love.
229 Minutes Is Not a Runtime. It’s a Commitment.
Three hours and 49 minutes. The 8th longest Indian film ever made. And the India version is already 6 minutes shorter than what overseas audiences are watching — CBFC trimmed it and still slapped an A certificate on top.
That runtime is where your “worth watching” answer splits in two.
If you’re the person who sat through every Bollywood release this March and still wanted more — you’ll survive. The pacing carries if you’re invested in Ranveer’s Jaskirat Singh Rangi going deeper undercover, if the spy thriller tension works for you, if Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal showing up feels like event cinema and not just fan service.
But if you checked your phone even once during Dhurandhar 1? This one’s longer. Significantly.
The second half asks for patience. It rewards some of it. Not all of it.
Who Should Actually Go — and Who Should Wait
Here’s the split nobody in the “review” business wants to give you, because nuance doesn’t get clicks.
Go to the theatre if:
- You loved Dhurandhar 1 and want the payoff
- Ranveer Singh in full intensity mode is your thing
- You treat Bollywood blockbusters as an event, not just a movie
- You have a working bladder strategy for 229 minutes
Wait for JioHotstar if:
- You need a pause button (the OTT rights went for Rs 150 crore, so it’s coming)
- Runtime over 2.5 hours makes you anxious
- You’re a casual viewer, not a franchise fan
- You’d rather binge a web series this week and catch this when the hype cools
The film is banned in all GCC countries, so if you’re reading this from Dubai — OTT is your only play anyway.
The Verdict Nobody Asked RGV For
Ram Gopal Varma said Dhurandhar 2 makes Mughal-e-Azam feel like a TV show. That’s not a review. That’s performance art.
The actual truth is simpler: Dhurandhar 2 is a very good sequel that’s about 30 minutes away from being a great one. Ranveer is electric. Madhavan is a genuine addition. The action is blockbuster-grade. The runtime is the tax you pay for all of it. For anyone asking about our Dhurandhar 2 rating — it’s a solid watch, but not flawless.
Rs 52.7 crore in paid previews said people were willing to pay before they knew. Now that they know? Most of them aren’t asking for refunds.
That’s not “Sholay x 100.” But it’s enough.