Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma believes the upcoming sequel Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge could shake up the Indian film industry if it delivers massive box office numbers. Speaking about the Ranveer Singh-starrer, Varma said the film has the potential to disrupt the dominance of southern cinema — provided it crosses the Rs 1,500 – 2,000 crore mark worldwide.
In a recent conversation with Variety India, the filmmaker suggested that such a milestone could dramatically alter box office trends. “If Dhurandhar 2 creates numbers like 1,500–2,000 crores, then all the south films will go for a toss,” Varma said, adding that many southern action films are still built around an “old-school” style of storytelling and spectacle.
The sequel arrives on the back of the blockbuster success of Dhurandhar, which reportedly earned around Rs 1300 crore worldwide after its release in December last year.
Why does RGV think Dhurandhar 2 could perform bigger?
According to Varma, the biggest advantage for the sequel is the audience’s existing connection with its characters and storyline. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy thriller follows Singh’s character Hamza — also known as Jaskirat — an Indian operative working in Pakistan.
Varma told Variety India that the emotional investment viewers already have in the story could help the sequel outperform the first film. “The audience has invested in the characters and the story so much. I think they will just follow the trajectory from part one,” he said.
He also pointed out that both parts were shot simultaneously, which means the narrative flows like “one film split into two,” drawing comparisons with the storytelling approach of Baahubali.
What makes the action in Dhurandhar different?
Varma also highlighted the film’s approach to action choreography, describing it as more grounded than the exaggerated style often seen in commercial cinema.
“You can’t have people flying in the air and kicking in the air. It’s got to be real,” he said, crediting the franchise with pushing Bollywood towards more realistic action sequences.
The recently released trailer also impressed the filmmaker, who praised Dhar on social media and described the film’s scale as “stratospheric”.
When will the film release and who does it clash with?
Originally scheduled to clash with Toxic: The Fairytale for Grown-Ups starring Yash, the box office battle was avoided after the latter shifted its release to June. However, Dhurandhar 2 will still face competition from Ustaad Bhagat Singh, starring Pawan Kalyan, which releases on the same date.
The film also features an ensemble cast including R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi and Sara Arjun.
