Veteran filmmaker and Bhooth Bangla director Priyadarshan has openly expressed pride in the success of Dhurandhar, the spy thriller directed by his former student Aditya Dhar. The Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna starrer has smashed box office records, and Priyadarshan described this BIG win as a personal victory for him. Read on to know what he said!
Priyadarshan PROUD Of His Student Aditya Dhar
On Thursday, Priyadarshan shared a heartfelt Instagram post featuring a throwback picture with Aditya Dhar. He praised his former student and wrote, “There is no greater happiness than watching my disciple rise with such remarkable success. Congratulations Aditya Dhar on Dhurandhar, and heartfelt best wishes for Dhurandhar 2.”
Later, Aditya replied in the comments and thanked his mentor for believing in him during his early days. He wrote, “My Dearest Priyan Sir… this means more to me than I can ever put into words!! You believed in me when I was a nobody, and when all I had was conviction and a few written pages. You treated me like an equal, and gave me something far more precious than just work – dignity, trust and love.”
Aditya added, “In an industry where I often learnt what not to do, you taught me exactly what to do, not just as a filmmaker, but as a human being. From writing dialogues for Aakrosh and Tezz to standing here today, every step carries your imprint. I will forever be your student first. Thank you for everything, Sir. This success is as much yours as it is mine.”
Dhurandhar Breaks Records
Since its theatrical release on December 5, 2025, Dhurandhar has shattered several box office records. According to Sacnilk, the film has earned over Rs 790.25 cr in India alone.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar is a Hindi-language spy action thriller that follows a decade-long Indian intelligence operation. The story revolves around Hamza, played by Ranveer Singh, who infiltrates Pakistan’s Lyari underworld to dismantle an ISI-terrorist network. The narrative incorporates real-life geopolitical events such as the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The film’s ensemble cast includes Sanjay Dutt as SP Chaudhary Aslam, Akshaye Khanna as the antagonist Rehman Dakait, and R Madhavan as a National Security Advisor inspired by Ajit Doval. Other key roles are portrayed by Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi. Despite the film’s immense success, its 214-minute runtime drew criticism for being one of the longest Indian films ever produced.
Dhurandhar Controversies And Sequel
Dhurandhar also sparked controversies. It faced a de facto ban in Gulf countries for its ANTI-PAKISTAN storyline. Domestically, the family of late Major Mohit Sharma filed a petition fearing misuse of his life story, though the court found no direct link. Pakistani politicians and residents of Lyari criticised its depiction of their community and political figures.
Looking ahead, Dhurandhar Part 2 – Revenge is set to release on March 19 and will continue the story of Hamza as he confronts Bade Sahab (the mastermind behind multiple terror attacks). For those who missed the first part, Dhurandhar will start streaming on Netflix from January 30, 2026.
