The debate over long working hours in Bollywood is back. This time, Dhurandhar director Aditya Dhar is at the centre of it.
At the trailer launch of his upcoming film, Dhar spoke about the effort behind the project. However, his statement was criticised by social media users who accused him of glorifying toxic work culture. Read on to know what he said!
Aditya Dhar Claims His Team Worked For 16-18 Hrs
He said his team (from actors to assistants) worked 16 to 18 hours a day for over a year and a half. The director shared, Actors se leke HODs se leke, even assistant se leke even spot dada tak, everybody was like ki yaar is film ke liye jaan deni hai. We have worked 16 hours, 18 hours continuously for one and a half years. And not even once has anybody complained ki sir aap humse zyada kaam karwa rahe ho. Everybody has given their 100%, absolutely. And that’s how this film happened.”
The comment quickly sparked outrage online. Many accused Dhar of celebrating a toxic work culture. The reaction was sharper because Dhar made the statement while standing beside Ranveer Singh. Ranveer’s wife, Deepika Padukone, has recently faced criticism for asking for healthier working hours on set and made an exit from high-profile projects like Spirit and Kalki 2.
Check some reactions by Redditors online:
“They are paid in crores for doing what they love. IT job 15‑16 ghanta krke dikhao toh manu.”
“Why tf is he bragging about toxic work culture?”
“Get a job in Infosys then.”
“Exploitation of crew is not a flex.”
“Said this in front of green‑flag husband Ranveer, who didn’t utter a word.”
Some even compared it to Hollywood incidents. One user wrote: “He has guts. Saying this in front of Deepika’s husband? Another Will Smith episode coming soon.” Others called celebrating extreme work hours “exploitative.”
Dhurandhar Trailer Dropped Yesterday
The trailer shows a dark and intense story. Arjun Rampal plays Major Iqbal, the “Angel of Death,” who threatens to “bleed India with a thousand cuts.” R Madhavan plays spymaster Sanyal, who plans to infiltrate Pakistan-backed terror groups. Akshaye Khanna plays Rehman Dakait.
Ranveer Singh plays undercover agent Major Mohit Sharma, using the alias Iftikhar Bhatt. The film shows his daring mission against the Hizbul Mujahideen. The trailer promises action, drama and high stakes. Ranveer recently shared his character poster and called himself the “wrath of God.”
Based on real events, Dhurandhar follows Sharma’s infiltration of a terror outfit. The cast also includes Sanjay Dutt and Sara Arjun. Directed by Aditya Dhar and produced by Dhar and Jyoti Deshpande, the film may be released in two parts, with the second part expected in 2026.
Dhurandhar is set to hit theatres worldwide on December 5. Tade experts have predicted an opening of above Rs 20-25 cr in India.
