The Revenge, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2025 espionage blockbuster Dhurandhar, arrives in cinemas this week with massive hype and rave endorsements from veteran filmmakers. A special preview screening on March 17, 2026 has thrust the film into the spotlight, especially after celebrated director Ram Gopal Varma made bold statements comparing it to iconic Indian classics. Dhurandhar: The Revenge is set to test long standing cinematic boundaries when it releases globally from March 19, 2026.
Ram Gopal Varma Calls the Film Bigger Than Indian Classics
Veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma took to social media after watching an early screening of Dhurandhar: The Revenge and described it as a once‑in‑a‑generation cinematic experience. Varma declared that the film’s scale and cinematic impact were like “Sholay multiplied by 100,” and that even timeless classics such as Mughal‑E‑Azam would “look like a TV serial” in comparison. He urged legendary Hollywood directors to witness the film’s spectacle firsthand.
Varma’s praise is highly unusual in the industry, especially when it involves equating a contemporary action thriller with iconic classics revered for decades. Sholay is widely considered one of Indian cinema’s crowning achievements, and Mughal‑E‑Azam is celebrated globally for its artistic and historical significance. These comparisons signal a strong belief that Dhurandhar: The Revenge might shift audience expectations for action cinema.
What Makes Dhurandhar: The Revenge Special
Dhurandhar: The Revenge is directed by Aditya Dhar, known for his work on Uri: The Surgical Strike. The film continues the story set by the first Dhurandhar that released in December 2025 and became one of the biggest Hindi hits of the year.
Here’s what sets the sequel apart:
Massive runtime and scale
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At roughly 229 minutes, Dhurandhar: The Revenge is one of the longest contemporary Indian films, aiming for a deeply immersive experience across political and emotional landscapes.
Pan‑India global release
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Scheduled for March 19, 2026, the film is hitting screens in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Layered character arcs
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Ranveer Singh returns as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, also known as Hamza Ali Mazari, a covert agent grappling with loyalty and vengeance.
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R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Akshaye Khanna, and Sara Arjun are among the key ensemble cast pushing the narrative’s intensity forward.
Anticipation and box office buzz
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Advance booking figures are already soaring, with preview shows on March 18 and predictions suggesting the sequel could have a blockbuster opening weekend.
Behind the Hype: The Story So Far
The world of Dhurandhar revolves around high‑stakes espionage drama and geopolitical tension, focusing on covert operations between India and its rivals. The first film blended action, emotion, and political undertones, and despite some criticism for pacing and runtime, it emerged as a box office phenomenon.
The sequel picks up these narrative threads and magnifies them. Audiences will follow complex strategies, dangerous missions, and moral dilemmas as the characters navigate betrayal, loyalty, and revenge.
Director Aditya Dhar also appealed to fans with a heartfelt request ahead of the film’s official release, urging them to avoid sharing spoilers so that everyone can experience the story without prejudice.
Industry Reactions and Expectations
With Ram Gopal Varma’s endorsement making waves, trade analysts and fans alike are debating its potential impact. Some believe the film could set new benchmarks for Indian action cinema if it resonates with audiences as strongly as industry insiders hope.
Film trade circles are closely watching box office trends and advance bookings. Early indicators from fan communities show high enthusiasm in India and abroad, with a strong penetration in advance ticket sales.
The narrative momentum is further fueled by Dhurandhar‘s performance on digital platforms, where the first part dominated charts in multiple countries.
Why This Matters to Cinema Lovers
Even before its official release, Dhurandhar: The Revenge has become a litmus test for how modern Indian films are evaluated against classics. It is rare for contemporary films to draw such bold comparisons from industry veterans. This has created a mix of optimism and skepticism among cinephiles and critics.
If the film delivers on its promise of scale, emotional depth, and storytelling, it could influence future large‑scale Indian cinema projects and elevate audience expectations for international storytelling standards.
Dhurandhar: The Revenge is more than just a sequel; it embodies a bold ambition that echoes across global cinema dialogue. The real test now lies with audiences worldwide when it finally opens in theaters.
