“Aditya Dhar Credits Ram Gopal Varma for ‘Dhurandhar’s’ Success”

Aditya Dhar Credits Ram Gopal Varma for ‘Dhurandhar’s’ Success: “Dhurandhar Could Run Because You Walked”

Aditya Dhar’s directorial venture, Dhurandhar, has been making waves at the box office since its release. Following the film’s success, veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) praised Dhar, prompting the director to publicly acknowledge the legendary filmmaker’s influence on his work.

Responding to RGV’s post—where he mused, “It sounds nice that I INSPIRED all these great directors to become GREAT, but when will I, the INSPIRER, become GREAT?”—Dhar wrote:

“Ramu sir, you took the risks when it was the hardest! At a time when there were no templates, no safety nets, and no guarantee that things would work, Dhurandhar could run because you walked first. Some paths don’t end with applause—they end in creating a legacy.”

Earlier, Dhar had reflected on his journey to Mumbai and the impact of RGV’s films on his approach to cinema:

“I came to Mumbai years ago with one suitcase, one dream, and the belief that I would one day work under Ram Gopal Varma. That didn’t happen, but without realizing it, I worked inside your cinema. Your films didn’t teach me how to make movies—they taught me how to think dangerously.”

Dhar added, “You were one of my favourite directors who made Indian cinema fearless, impolite, and alive. If Dhurandhar carries even a fraction of that DNA, it’s because your films whispered—and sometimes screamed—in my head while I was writing and directing it.”

Dhurandhar: Cast and Plot

Written and directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar draws inspiration from real-life geopolitical conflicts and covert R&AW operations, particularly Operation Lyari, a Pakistan-led crackdown on criminal syndicates in Karachi’s Lyari region.

The film stars Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, with Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sara Arjun in pivotal roles.

The first installment of the two-part series has been praised for its performances, direction, cinematography, music, and tense atmosphere. The sequel, Dhurandhar Part 2, is slated for release on 19 March 2026.