Emraan Hashmi has never been one to mince his words, and his latest comments on the success of Dhurandhar have once again sparked conversation within the Hindi film industry. While praising Aditya Dhar’s ambitious espionage thriller, the actor also called out what he described as a “CRAP MENTALITY” in Bollywood, where people often speak negatively about films instead of celebrating success.
Speaking to India Today, Emraan reflected on how Dhurandhar has rewritten box office rules and why its success should be seen as a win for the entire industry. According to him, the tendency to pull films down is deeply counterproductive, especially at a time when theatres need consistent footfalls.
Here’s What Emraan Hashmi Said
Talking about this mindset, Emraan said, “Whenever a film does a certain amount of business, firstly, you’re happy. [However,] there is a crap mentality in our industry. People like [to] run-down films. But I’m of the opinion that if something does well, you should celebrate that. Because that really… the more films do well, it gets for the industry, and the cash flow comes in. It helps everyone. So, that crap mentality shouldn’t be there.”
His remarks come at a time when Dhurandhar is being hailed as a game-changer for Hindi cinema. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film released on December 5, 2025, and has since shattered long-standing domestic box office records. As of early January 2026, the espionage thriller has crossed Rs 840 crore nett in India (as per producer figures), overtaking Pushpa 2 The Rule to become the highest-grossing Hindi film in the domestic market.
What makes the film’s success even more remarkable is its runtime. Clocking in at nearly three and a half hours, Dhurandhar defied the belief that modern audiences lack patience for long-format storytelling. Emraan openly admired this bold creative choice, even admitting that he has not yet watched the film himself.
He said, “But it’s great for the makers. I think it’s a great film. The marketing of the film, the way it’s… I’ve not seen the film, but it’s audacious when you have two parts like that. And a film that is almost three and a half hours, but it’s doing that kind of business.”
Emraan also pointed out how audiences are flocking to cinemas at odd hours. He added, “I was telling someone right now that the cinema experience would be four hours, but people are going and seeing it at 12 o’clock shows, even early in the morning. And that’s the power of cinema and word of mouth. It’s caught on like wildfire.”
How Dhurandhar Has Changed Things In Bollywood
Beyond box office numbers, Dhurandhar has triggered a ripple effect across Bollywood. Its extraordinary 29-day streak of double-digit collections reportedly forced several major stars, including Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi himself, to rethink or postpone their 2026 releases to avoid clashing with what many now call “Dhurandhar wave.”
Globally, the film has earned over Rs 1,264 crore, despite being a single-language Hindi release and facing bans in parts of the Middle East. Industry insiders believe its success has proved that gritty, authentic storytelling can outperform heavily manufactured promotional gimmicks.
In fact, the impact of Dhurandhar is already being felt at the planning stage of upcoming big-budget projects. Reports suggest that Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War and Shah Rukh Khan’s King are reconsidering their rollout strategies, with the possibility of being released in two parts.
