Movie Review: Dhurandhar: The Revenge (2026) – Ranveer Singh Returns in a Brutal, High-Stakes Spy Saga
After the success of Dhurandhar, director Aditya Dhar returns with Dhurandhar: The Revenge, a much larger and more intense conclusion to the two-part spy-action saga. Headlined by Ranveer Singh, with Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan and Arjun Rampal in major roles, the film expands its world of undercover operations, crime syndicates, political intrigue and revenge. Released on March 19, 2026, the film has been a major box-office success and received strong audience response. (BookMyShow)
Quick Review Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Director & Writer | Aditya Dhar |
| Lead Cast | Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna |
| Supporting Cast | Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi |
| Music Composer | Shashwat Sachdev |
| Cinematography | Vikash Nowlakha |
| Editor | Shivkumar V. Panicker |
| Genre | Spy Action / Thriller / Crime Drama |
| Runtime | 229 Minutes |
| Language | Hindi |
| Release Date | March 19, 2026 |
| Where to Watch | JioHotstar in India; international streaming availability varies by region |
The film is the second and final installment of the Dhurandhar story, with Aditya Dhar handling writing and direction and Ranveer Singh returning as Hamza Ali Mazari/Jaskirat Singh Rangi. (IMDb)
Storyline: Jaskirat Singh Rangi’s Final Mission
The story continues with Jaskirat Singh Rangi, operating under the identity of Hamza Ali Mazari. Deep inside Pakistan’s criminal underworld, his undercover mission becomes increasingly dangerous as he attempts to move higher through the criminal hierarchy while pursuing the people responsible for a devastating past.
Hamza’s position becomes more complicated as he gains power and influence. Every alliance comes with a price, and maintaining his false identity becomes increasingly difficult.
The narrative revolves around revenge, loyalty, betrayal and survival, with Jaskirat forced to make increasingly ruthless choices to complete his mission.
Rather than simply repeating the first film, The Revenge expands the undercover storyline into a much larger conflict involving criminal organizations, intelligence operations and political power. The film’s 229-minute runtime gives the story considerable room to develop its characters and multiple layers of the conspiracy. (BookMyShow)
Character Performances: Ranveer Singh Dominates the Screen
The film’s biggest strength is undoubtedly its ensemble cast.
- Ranveer Singh (as Hamza Ali Mazari / Jaskirat Singh Rangi): Ranveer delivers an intense and physically committed performance. He completely disappears into the character, moving between controlled undercover moments and explosive bursts of violence. His ability to portray both vulnerability and ruthlessness makes Jaskirat one of the film’s most compelling characters.
- Akshaye Khanna: Khanna brings tremendous restraint and menace to his role. His controlled expressions and quiet intensity make his scenes particularly effective. The character becomes an important part of the film’s power struggle.
- Sanjay Dutt (as S.P. Chaudhary Aslam): Sanjay Dutt brings authority and aggression to his character. His screen presence adds weight to the criminal and police portions of the story.
- R. Madhavan (as Ajay Sanyal): Madhavan provides a more strategic and cerebral presence. His character represents the intelligence side of the operation and adds another layer to Jaskirat’s dangerous mission.
- Arjun Rampal (as Major Iqbal): Rampal gives the film another intimidating antagonist figure, bringing physical intensity and authority to his scenes.
- Sara Arjun (as Yalina Jamali): Sara Arjun adds an emotional dimension to the story, contributing to the personal stakes surrounding the central characters.
- Rakesh Bedi (as Jameel Jamali): Bedi provides an effective supporting performance and contributes to the film’s extensive criminal-world ensemble. (IMDb)
Technical Craft & Direction: Bigger, Darker and More Ambitious
Director Aditya Dhar clearly increases the scale of the sequel. After establishing the characters and world in the first film, The Revenge pushes deeper into the spy-thriller and gangster elements.
Cinematography
Vikash Nowlakha gives the film a dark, cinematic visual style. The extensive locations and large action sequences create a sense of scale, while the darker lighting complements the story’s violent and morally complicated world. (Rotten Tomatoes)
Music & Background Score
Shashwat Sachdev handles the music and background score. The score is particularly important during the action and elevation sequences, giving the film an aggressive and theatrical energy. The soundtrack includes songs such as “Aari Aari,” “Main Aur Tu,” “Jaan Se Guzarte Hain,” “Destiny – Mann Atkeya,” and “Jaiye Sajana.” (YouTube)
Editing
Shivkumar V. Panicker handles the editing. Considering the film’s enormous runtime, maintaining momentum is a significant challenge. The editing allows the story to move between espionage, criminal politics, personal drama and action without turning the film into a straightforward action-only experience.
Critical Analysis: A Bold Spy Thriller That Refuses to Play Safe
The biggest strength of Dhurandhar: The Revenge is its confidence.
The film doesn’t attempt to make its characters conventional heroes. Jaskirat’s undercover identity forces him to operate in morally dangerous territory, and the screenplay repeatedly places him in situations where survival requires deception and violence.
India Today described the film as loud, political and deeply character-driven, particularly praising Ranveer Singh’s performance. (India Today)
The film’s enormous runtime can be intimidating, but it also allows Aditya Dhar to spend more time establishing the criminal world and the relationships surrounding Jaskirat.
However, the political tone and heavy emphasis on national-security themes may not appeal to every viewer. The screenplay can also feel deliberately excessive, especially during its extended action and dramatic sequences.
Still, for audiences who enjoy large-scale Indian spy thrillers, the ambition is one of the film’s major attractions.
The audience response has been particularly strong: IMDb currently lists the film at 8.2/10 from tens of thousands of ratings, while BookMyShow reports a 9.4/10 audience score from more than 641,000 votes. (IMDb)
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Watching?
Dhurandhar: The Revenge is a massive, violent and ambitious conclusion to Aditya Dhar’s spy-action saga. Ranveer Singh delivers the film’s standout performance, while Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan and Arjun Rampal strengthen the ensemble.
With impressive cinematography, a powerful score from Shashwat Sachdev, large-scale action and a story packed with espionage, revenge and betrayal, the film delivers the kind of big-screen spectacle its audience expects.
Its lengthy runtime and political intensity won’t work for everyone, but if you’re a fan of spy thrillers, gangster dramas, undercover missions and high-octane action, Dhurandhar: The Revenge is well worth watching.
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ / 5 (India Today)
