Aditya Dhar has shattered box-office records with his latest cinematic venture, Dhurandhar: The Revenge. The film crossed a staggering ₹1400 crore globally in just 13 days. It achieved this milestone without a Chinese theatrical release, making it a historic moment for Hindi cinema.
Despite securing its spot as the fourth-highest-grossing Indian film of all time, the film fraternity’s reaction reveals a stark divide. South Indian cinema icons are openly celebrating the movie. Meanwhile, mainstream Hindi film stars remain noticeably silent. This massive contrast raises questions about industry unity and the underlying politics of movie endorsements.
Here is a quick look at the core takeaways:
- Dhurandhar is dominating the global box office and breaking regional records.
- South Indian legends like SS Rajamouli and Rajinikanth are publicly praising the film.
- Most Bollywood A-listers are avoiding public conversations about the movie.
The Unprecedented Success of Dhurandhar
Audiences across the nation have embraced Dhurandhar. The film dominates ticket windows, sparks viral internet trends, and fuels endless cultural discussions. Veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan even compared its massive cultural impact to Sholay, widely considered India’s greatest film.
The box office numbers tell an incredible story. In the five southern states—Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana—the film has netted over ₹200 crore. Trade experts predict it will soon surpass Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan as the highest-grossing Hindi film in the South. Impressively, Dhurandhar is achieving this feat with an entirely Bollywood-based cast and crew.
Bollywood vs South Industry: A Tale of Two Reactions
The film’s massive success highlights a fascinating dynamic among different film fraternities. The Bollywood vs South Industry debate usually revolves around box-office numbers. Still, this time it centers entirely on peer support.
South Stars Championing Aditya Dhar
Filmmakers and actors from the South have enthusiastically supported the Hindi film. This marks a rare and significant moment of cross-industry validation.
Key endorsements include Rajinikanth, the legendary actor, who took to social media to call director Aditya Dhar the ultimate “box office king.”
Along with SS Rajamouli, the RRR director praised lead actor Ranveer Singh, calling specific emotional scenes a “masterclass in acting.”
Other A-Lister stars like Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, Mahesh Babu, and Nagarjuna have all publicly applauded the cast and crew.
For years, Hindi cinema has praised Southern blockbusters. Now, the tables have turned, and the South is returning the favor with immense enthusiasm.
The Snooping Silence from Bollywood A-Listers
The Hindi film industry has a well-known habit of celebrating box office hits on social media. Yet, the praise for Dhurandhar from within its own home turf remains shockingly muted.
While a few prominent figures like Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, and Akshay Kumar have shown support, the biggest names are missing from the conversation. Shah Rukh Khan, who recently praised Anil Kapoor’s Subedaar, has said nothing. Salman Khan remains quiet, and Aamir Khan admitted he simply has not watched it yet. Actors like Kangana Ranaut and Priyanka Chopra have praised the film. Still, the mainstream core of Bollywood appears hesitant to speak up.
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar publicly criticized this lack of unity. He noted that when one film succeeds, the entire industry benefits—from spot boys to music directors. He questioned what Bollywood hopes to achieve by withholding public appreciation.
Why is the Hindi Film Industry Keeping Quiet?
Several theories attempt to explain why Bollywood is giving Dhurandhar the cold shoulder. Ram Gopal Varma suggested that fear and jealousy are at play, as the industry feels blindsided by the film’s unexpected dominance.
However, the real reason might be purely ideological. Dhurandhar has faced criticism from some circles for allegedly promoting a specific political agenda. Many label the film as propaganda supporting the current government. The Hindi film industry often avoids commenting on politically charged projects to maintain neutrality and dodge controversies.
Another simple explanation is that many stars prefer to congratulate their peers privately. Direct messages and phone calls likely replaced public tweets for colleagues like Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. Still, the contrast between the loud cheers from the South and the whispers in Mumbai remains impossible to ignore.
What This Means for Indian Cinema
The massive triumph of Dhurandhar proves that audiences care about compelling narratives more than industry politics. Aditya Dhar has successfully bridged the gap between Hindi cinema and Southern audiences. Whether Bollywood chooses to celebrate this victory publicly or not, the box office numbers speak for themselves. The lines separating regional industries are fading, paving the way for a more unified Indian cinema landscape.
