As Dhurandhar mints crores, a word of ‘sympathy’ for Ajit Doval

As 'Dhurandhar' continues its roaring box office ride — crossing around ₹180 crore in just six days — a word of “sympathy” is due for Ajit Doval. In the film, R. Madhavan reportedly plays a character loosely inspired by the National Security Adviser — a figure of quiet precision and strategic calm. But while the numbers keep climbing, the conversation seems to have left him behind.

Ranveer Singh’s 'Dhurandhar' has been unstoppable since its release last week, already crossing the ₹150 crore mark within just five days and steadily heading toward the ₹200 crore milestone.

The film has also surpassed Saiyaara to become the second-highest opener of 2025, and currently stands as the fourth-highest-grossing release in Ranveer Singh’s filmography. 

'Dhurandhar' is minting money, and it’s exactly the kind of comeback arc Ranveer Singh was waiting for. The swagger is back, theatres are packed, and chatter is loud. Add to that Akshaye Khanna’s clinical precision and Sanjay Dutt’s towering presence — the applause is well-earned and well-amplified.

Yet amid all the noise, one performance seems to have slipped through the cracks: R Madhavan’s. In the film, Madhavan reportedly embodies the kind of calm, understated intensity associated with Ajit Doval — stillness that precedes strategy, and a quiet resolve that speaks louder than any speech.

No theatrics, no booming lines, no overt heroics. Instead, he builds a persona of quiet authority — the kind of presence whose silence can tilt scenes and whose one raised eyebrow can shift the narrative’s gravity.

However, as the box office frenzy swells, the spotlight seems stubbornly fixed on the film’s flashier arcs. Ranveer’s reclaimed star power. Akshaye’s controlled ice. Dutt’s imposing villainy. And somewhere in that noise, Madhavan’s slow-burn brilliance is being treated more like background score than a lead melody.

Fans who’ve caught the film are beginning to mutter the same question — why isn’t everyone talking about him? Because of all the attention the big, loud performances are receiving, Madhavan’s role is the one that lingers. It is arguably the quietest performance in Dhurandhar… and perhaps the one with the deepest aftertaste.

Yes, the film is a star vehicle. Yes, the heavyweights dominate the posters and memes. But sometimes, the character who says the least delivers the longest echo.

Madhavan does exactly that. Whether the industry eventually hands him the bouquets he deserves — or lets his brilliance remain a footnote in Dhurandhar’s success story — is still up in the air as the film continues to rake in the moolah.