“Its Shocking!” Madhur Bhandarkar calls out Bollywood for ignoring Dhurandhar success

Madhur Bhandarkar about Dhurandhar: In a candid and slightly fiery take, National award winner filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, called out the Hindi film industry for its surprising silence over Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar and its sequel. While audiences have been raving and the South film fraternity was quick to applaud, Madhur Bhandarkar feels Bollywood missed its cue and that didn’t sit right with him.

Madhur Bhandarkar about industry's silence on Dhurandhar's success

“It’s shocking, and there is no unity in the film industry." he said, pointing out how the applause that should have echoed loudly from Mumbai was nowhere to be heard.

Madhur Bhandarkar stated "at a time when Bollywood has been navigating a rough patch, Dhurandhar (released December 5) and its sequel in March have emerged as unexpected game-changers. Yes, the film might be long, and sure, opinions vary but one thing is undeniable: the audience is loving it. And according to me, that alone deserves recognition from peers within the industry."

Madhur Bhandarkar didn’t just stop at disappointment he hinted at something deeper. “I don’t know why there is a reluctance among filmmakers or actors to praise a film,” he remarked, subtly pointing toward an unspoken culture of hesitation… or perhaps even jealousy.

He peeled back the layers of Bollywood’s inner workings, suggesting that a lack of unity often holds the industry back from celebrating its own wins. In an era where collaboration and support can shape narratives, this silence speaks volumes.

On the flip side, Madhur Bhandarkar was all heart when it came to Aditya Dhar. Calling his direction “next level,” he praised the filmmaker for pushing boundaries and setting a new benchmark. From vision to execution, Aditya Dhar, he believes, has delivered something that stands tall in today’s cinematic landscape.

Madhur Bhandarkar about Ranveer Singh's graph

According to Madhur Bhandarkar, Ranveer Singh has delivered one of the finest performances of his career. Not just meeting expectations, but completely smashing them, Ranveer’s performance is being hailed as a standout moment in the film.

The love didn’t stop there. The director also applauded the supporting cast, including Rakesh Bedi, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and Gaurav Gera, crediting them for bringing depth, authenticity, and texture to the story.

Credits: Faridoon Shahryar