R Madhavan Breaks Silence on Dhurandhar’s “Bad Ratings”: Is There an Agenda Behind the Backlash?
New Delhi:
Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar continues to dominate headlines at the box office, while the online chatter around negative reviews shows no signs of slowing down. One of the film’s key actors, R Madhavan, has spoken up, saying he anticipated the kind of reaction the movie is receiving. He noted that some pushback was expected even before the film hit theatres.
What’s happening
In an interview with Puja Talwar for Esquire India, Madhavan explained that he foresaw a mixed reception. He said, “I expected this would influence public perception. There will be people who immediately give it very low ratings, and others who later react with surprise, saying, ‘Wow, this happened.’ I’m not speaking from animosity, but I believe the industry as a whole needs to evolve. I don’t want to be pigeonholed as merely the hero. If I’m asking for change, so should everyone in the industry, which is part of why I sensed this project would become iconic. Full credit to the makers for casting me in a way that challenges expectations.”
He added, “People are free to share their opinions, but even before release there were obituaries written, and upon release some reviews labeled it a disaster. One could wonder if there’s an agenda behind that. Still, actors thrive in such moments.”
Looking ahead to Dhurandhar Part 2, set for release on March 19, 2026, Madhavan teased, “I can’t reveal much, but know this: the first part was only a trailer. You haven’t seen anything yet.”
Dhurandhar Box Office Update
As of December 11, the film had earned roughly Rs 27 crore in a single day, according to trade tracker Sacnilk, bringing its total to about Rs 207.25 crore.
The opening weekend was robust, with a three-day haul of Rs 103 crore. Friday started at Rs 28 crore, exceeding early expectations, followed by Rs 32 crore on Saturday and a peak of Rs 43 crore on Sunday.
Weekday momentum remained solid. Monday added Rs 23.25 crore, Tuesday Rs 27 crore, lifting the cumulative total beyond Rs 150 crore. On Wednesday, another Rs 27 crore pushed the figure toward Rs 180 crore, and Thursday’s Rs 27 crore brought the tally to approximately Rs 207.25 crore.
About Dhurandhar
Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar released in theatres on December 5 and features a notable ensemble that includes Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi. The project’s creators have confirmed a sequel arriving on March 19, 2026.
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