The Indian film industry may be on the cusp of a seismic shift, according to veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma. Following the release of Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Varma has been effusive in his praise, going so far as to declare the film a “reset button” for Indian cinema. This comes after he previously stated the first Dhurandhar film “redraws the grammar of mainstream Indian cinema,” signaling a consistent and strong endorsement of Dhar’s perform.
Varma’s comments aren’t simply enthusiastic praise; they represent a bold assertion about the film’s potential to redefine cinematic standards. The sequel, starring Ranveer Singh alongside R. Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, Sara Arjun, and Arjun Rampal, has already garnered significant attention and box office success, crossing the ₹300 crore net mark in India within its first three days of release. This success, coupled with Varma’s pronouncements, is fueling a conversation about the future direction of Indian filmmaking.
Taking to his X account, Varma stated, “The #Dhurandhar2 is not a film .. It is a RESET BUTTON for INDIAN CINEMA ..it will be foolish on all film makers part not to forget all films which were made before March 19 th 2026 and starting from March 19 th 2026 onwards everybody should bench mark all their to be made films with #Dhurandhar2 or else they will PERISH in it’s FIRE.” This strong statement underscores Varma’s belief that Dhurandhar 2 represents a new benchmark for quality, and innovation.
He didn’t stop there. In a separate post, Varma critiqued action sequences prevalent in other films, writing, “#Dhurandhar2 will terrify those who built their careers on action set pieces where physics is a joke and gravity is non existent . The scenes, where men are thrown fifty feet in the air, bounce off the ground like rubber balls, survive explosions that would vaporise cities, and still deliver punch dialogues while dusting their shoulders will be hunted and killed by the new audience.” This suggests a preference for a more grounded and realistic approach to action filmmaking, a quality he appears to find in Dhar’s work.
A New Cinematic Order?
Varma’s review of the sequel was even more emphatic, stating, “This is the BIRTH of a NEW CINEMATIC ORDER and the ruthless extinction of everything that that ever existed the previous WORLD of CINEMA The very spelling of the word DIRECTOR will start from @adityadharfilms name , and it will be prudent and wise for even STEVEN SPIELBERG and CHRISTOPHER NOLAN to drop everything they are doing, and catch #Dhurandhar2 FIRST DAY FiRST SHOW.” This hyperbolic praise positions Dhurandhar 2 not just as a good film, but as a revolutionary one, capable of eclipsing even the most celebrated works of international cinema.
Dhurandhar, released in December 2025, is set against the backdrop of Lyari, Karachi, a region known for its history of gang warfare and covert intelligence operations. The narrative weaves together real-world geopolitical events, including the Kandahar plane hijack, the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The sequel expands on this foundation, charting the rise of Ranveer Singh’s character, Hamza Ali Mazari, within the Karachi underworld, while simultaneously exploring his origins as Jaskirat Singh Rangi and his transformation into a covert operative.
Varma’s comments echo earlier statements made by Aditya Dhar himself, who previously acknowledged being heavily influenced by Varma’s earlier films, such as Satya and Company, while developing Dhurandhar. As Varma explained in an interview, Dhar “mixed them [Satya and Company] and place some patriotism” into the film, creating a unique blend of gangster drama and nationalistic themes. Indian Express
What’s Next for Indian Cinema?
The impact of Dhurandhar 2 remains to be seen, but Varma’s strong endorsement and the film’s initial box office success suggest a potential shift in audience expectations and filmmaking approaches. Whether this will truly usher in a “new cinematic order,” as Varma predicts, is a question that will be answered in the coming months and years. The film’s success will likely encourage other filmmakers to experiment with bolder narratives and more realistic action sequences, potentially leading to a more dynamic and innovative Indian film industry.
As the dust settles on the opening weekend of Dhurandhar 2, the industry will be watching closely to see how filmmakers respond to this perceived challenge. The conversation sparked by Ram Gopal Varma’s enthusiastic support highlights a pivotal moment for Indian cinema, one that could redefine its future trajectory.
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