Filmmaker S S Rajamouli has heaped praise on Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, calling it a rare sequel that surpasses its predecessor in both scale and emotional depth.

Taking to X, acclaimed Telugu filmmaker, wrote, “I loved Dhurandhar-1, but The Revenge surpassed the original in both scale and soul. The writing, casting, technical execution, music, world design and direction are flawless…. But it’s the emotional stakes that really ground it. The writing manages to weave plot twists that create genuine tension charged with emotion.”

He also lauded director Aditya Dhar for crafting an engaging narrative with strong emotional tension.

“The writing manages to weave plot twists that create genuine tension charged with emotion. @AdityaDharFilms, you hit it out of the park. It takes guts to make and release a film 4 hours long. The audience is glued to the seat till the last frame.”

Rajamouli reserved special praise for Ranveer Singh’s performance, calling it a “masterclass in acting.”

“@RanveerOfficial, what a performance man… The sequence with the sister in the shed is a masterclass in acting. From that beginning to the heart-wrenching climax, you mesmerized us both as Hamza and Jaskirat.”

He also appreciated R Madhavan for effectively portraying the emotional weight of the story.

“@ActorMadhavan garu, you carried the helplessness and frustration of a nation so well that we felt your sucess as ours.. Congratulations to the entire team for the resounding success…,” Rajamouli wrote.

Directed by Aditya Dhar and headlined by Ranveer Singh, the spy thriller released on March 19, 2026, and has opened to record-breaking numbers, reportedly crossing ₹100 crore worldwide on its first day.

A sequel to the 2025 hit Dhurandhar, the film has struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, particularly for its grounded storytelling and restrained action.

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma also lauded the film, calling Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge a “cinematic disruptor” that signals a shift away from formula-driven Bollywood spectacles.

Varma described the film as a “horror” for filmmakers who rely on “dumbed down, over-the-top cinema,” arguing that it exposes the weaknesses of traditional hero-centric storytelling. He added that the film “killed all those heroes who never bleed and never feel pain.”

Central to his praise was Singh’s portrayal of a psychologically layered anti-hero who falters and bleeds, marking a departure from the invincible protagonists often seen in mainstream cinema. Varma also highlighted the film’s “raw and real” action sequences, noting that unlike conventional entertainers, here “physics is a joke and gravity is non-existent” does not apply.

He further suggested that audiences exposed to such realism may increasingly find traditional high-octane action films “cheap, fake, and embarrassingly ridiculous.”

Calling the film a “verdict,” Varma said it has effectively “cut off the head” of cinema that prioritises spectacle over storytelling. He urged filmmakers to “go back to their drawing boards,” warning that failure to adapt could render them obsolete in a rapidly evolving industry.

Varma has previously described the Dhurandhar franchise as a “quantum leap” for Indian cinema, even comparing its impact to classics like Sholay and Mughal-e-Azam.