The beast is back, and more bloody, brash, blistering than ever before. Singh, whose raw and forceful embodiment of Alauddin Khilji in Padmaavat was so impressive, is returning familiar-yet-amped terrain with the double-length teaser of the high-octane Dhurandhar created by Aditya Dhar. Released on Singh’s 40th birthday, this mental shot in the arm is a combination of chaos, carnage, and calm in frenzy.
From the first frame, Dhurandhar screams intensity. The teaser embraces its zeitgeist, without concern for being clever – violence front and centre, and it appears to be narratively justified. This is violence that is justified on-screen, as opposed to bloodshed for the sake of shock value. The violence and gore is justified and purposeful, which makes for a gripping experience. Think Animal – but a bit more of a constructed/soul, a bit of way less loony, but more madness with intent.
There is the obvious line of comparison to be made, mainly due to the shocking visual connection where Singh’s blood-splattered face and rugged avatar invoke a bold call back to the character of Ranbir Kapoor in Animal. Some visual similarities are unmistakable immediately, but as the teaser takes us deeper into the Dhurandhar journey, the teaser smartly separates itself by going deeper into the plot and characters, acknowledging and promising a plotted path versus a haphazard journey.
One of the big takeaways from the teaser trailer was the supporting cast — it’s magnificent, with a trio of menacing lean-has-beens made bad by Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, and Arjun Rampal.
They’re more than just faces on a casting call, they feel like declarations of devastation. The people behind the film seem to be single-handedly reinstating the anti-hero, and restoring the “anything goes” grey shades embodied by characters like SRK in Darr.
Alongside the visual lunacy is an pulsating background that even matches the likes of Arjan Vailly’s anthem grooves. The background builds tension and creates an auditory vernacular for Dhurandhar that is both cavalier and spooky. The director has a unique ability weave large scale spectacle with raw depth. This time he looks like he’s using entertainment to show not just the glorification of virulence, but also in context and bigger life narrative.
The highlight is of course Ranveer Singh. His presence has been infectious, his metamorphosis alarming, and his aura engaging. His somewhat enigmatic caption of “An Inferno will rise. Discover the true story of The Unknown Men.” only adds to the suspense of it. the fans didn’t waste any time with their respnse and lit up the comment section with flame emojis to express their fervor.
One user said, “HOLY FUCKING SHIT WHAT A TRAILER!!!! Whistle-worthy dialogues, star-studded cast, explosive action, adrenaline pumping songs and Ranveer’s electricity on screen, this is a sure shot box office hit. Ranveer Singh is back and how!”
Another user said, “WHAT WAS THAT! #Dhurandhar Aditya Dhar & @RanveerOfficial cooked different this time! Industry ay nahi tayaar hai iske liye! GOOSEBUMPS GUARANTEED! Baba what present for all of us on our birthday! THIS IS GOING TO BE INSANE! 2.30 MIN SEC! PURE CINEMA! CRAZY! LEGENDARY! OUTSTANDING!”
Dhurandhar is not playing with tease but teasing with storm. Be it the layered performance, the ensemble cast, or the intense treatment of story, Dhurandhar already feels like a landmark film in the cinematic landscape of 2025 and we might just be witnessing the restart of a genre of purpose-driven violence in Indian cinema, with Aditya Dhar’s vision being the starting point.
