Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar has heaped praise on Ranveer Singh’s performance in Dhurandhar, going so far as to say that the actor deserves a National Award for his work in the film. In a recent interview, Bhandarkar also lauded director Aditya Dhar, calling Dhurandhar a landmark film that has changed the grammar of Indian cinema.Bhandarkar revealed that he watched the film multiple times and was deeply impressed by Ranveer’s restrained yet powerful portrayal.“After watching Part Two, the way Ranveer has played the character so flawlessly, I salute him. He should definitely get a National Award. There is no doubt about it. He has performed brilliantly,” Bhandarkar told Shubhakar Mishra.The Fashion director believes Dhurandhar has altered the industry’s approach to storytelling and filmmaking.“There will be a before Dhurandhar and after Dhurandhar. This film has changed the dynamics of the industry. It has changed scriptwriting and even the grammar of filmmaking,” he stated.
‘Ranveer surrendered completely to Aditya Dhar’
Bhandarkar credited much of the film’s success to the synergy between Ranveer Singh and Aditya Dhar. According to him, the actor completely trusted the filmmaker’s vision and dedicated years to the project.“One thing I want to tell you is that Ranveer Singh surrendered himself to Aditya Dhar. That is what true dedication is. He gave three-and-a-half years to this film. Which actor does that today?” he said.He further added, “Dhurandhar is 150 per cent a director’s film. From the first frame to the last frame, it belongs to Aditya Dhar.”The filmmaker also praised Ranveer for embracing a subdued role in the first instalment rather than chasing conventional hero moments.“You have to give credit to Ranveer Singh because he understood the script. Many actors would have questioned why they were standing silently in the background while others were getting bigger moments. But he understood the character and trusted the narrative,” Bhandarkar explained.
‘Aditya Dhar has created a different Ranveer Singh’
Comparing the performance to some of Ranveer’s most celebrated roles, Bhandarkar said Aditya Dhar brought out a completely new side of the actor.“I had seen Ranveer Singh in Padmaavat as Alauddin Khilji and I was shocked by that performance. But Aditya Dhar has taken him ten folds higher. This is a completely different Ranveer Singh,” he said.Bhandarkar also singled out several emotional moments in the film, particularly praising Ranveer’s expressions and attention to detail.“The scene where he returns injured, the way he walks with a limp, the scene where he sees his mother and breaks down — just those clips alone make him worthy of a National Award,” he remarked.
‘Content is king’
Reflecting on the film’s wider impact, Bhandarkar said Dhurandhar has proved that audiences will sit through lengthy films if the storytelling is compelling.“People don’t even watch a one-minute reel these days, but they are sitting through a four-hour film without taking out their phones. That tells you everything. Content is king,” he said.The filmmaker further claimed that the film has prompted many production houses to rethink their own projects.“From what I hear, several production houses have paused their scripts because they are trying to understand the new dynamics after Dhurandhar. That is the kind of impact this film has had,” Bhandarkar added.Calling it a “game-changer,” Bhandarkar concluded that Dhurandhar has redefined audience expectations and cemented Ranveer Singh’s place among the finest actors of his generation.
