Although ‘Dhurandhar’ released in December last year, the film continues to dominate conversations, and for good reason. From its ambitious scale and compelling narrative to the filmmaker Aditya DharThanks to the obsessive attention to detail in parts 1 and 2, the film has completely enthralled the audience. The nearly eight-hour long franchise has reportedly collected more than 3000 crores worldwide, an amazing feat considering that it was made on a budget of around 300 crores. Industry insiders believe that the film’s massive success is not only due to Aditya’s remarkable vision, but also to his deep love and influence for the cinema of the 80s and 90s.
Sanjay Gupta Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar’ behind the scenes view
Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta discussed Dhar’s unique approach to filmmaking and the high risk involved in making ‘Dhurandhar’ in an appearance on the InControversial Podcast. Reflecting on what makes Aditya stand out as a filmmaker, Gupta said, “It’s very clear that Aditya Dhar is inspired by the filmmakers of the 80s and 90s. I can clearly see those influences and that world-building style. Aditya Dhar is definitely a very intelligent filmmaker. But having said that, he spent four years trying to get this project off the ground. That’s difficult, regardless of whether your last film was successful or not.”
Sanjay Gupta praises ‘Dhurandhar’s two-part structure
The veteran filmmaker also expressed his admiration for Aditya’s bold decision to split the story into two parts, keeping the cinematic experience continuous and engaging. “We also make films and write scripts, and I don’t think he ever intended to do an eight-hour story. But the way they had it and structured it is wonderful,” he said.
Aditya Dhar shot ‘Dhurandhar’ in 150 days
Gupta praised Dhar’s work ethic and execution, marveling at how efficiently the mammoth project was brought together. He said, “In the last few days, Aditya posted emotional notes to his cinematographer and editor on Instagram. In his note to the editor, he thanked them for supporting his decision to do a two-part film and for making it work so beautifully. It’s amazing. The other day, Rakesh Bedi he told me that Aditya shot for 150 days and ended up making an eight-hour film. That is incredible. It has set a completely new benchmark.”
How ‘Dhurandhar’ became a global phenomenon after ‘Uri’
After the huge success of ‘Uri’, Aditya went silent for a while, and things took a turn for the worse when his ambitious project The Immortal Ashwatthama was shelved. But in 2023, he surprised everyone by announcing ‘Dhurandhar’, starring Ranveer SinghArjun Rampal, Akshaye Khanna and Sanjay Dutt. The film was a huge success with both parts grossing over Rs 3,000 crore worldwide.
