Madhur Bhandarkar calls Ranveer Singh National Award-worthy for ‘Dhurandhar’
Bollywood’s sharpest filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar has gone all out praising Ranveer Singh’s latest outing in ‘Dhurandhar’. The director, known for his own hard-hitting films like Fashion and Page 3, believes this performance deserves the highest honour. ‘After watching Part Two, the way Ranveer has played the character so flawlessly, I salute him. He should definitely get a National Award. There is no doubt about it. He has performed brilliantly,’ Bhandarkar said in an interview. He also lauded director Aditya Dhar for crafting what he calls a game-changer for Indian cinema.
Ranveer surrendered completely to Aditya Dhar
Bhandarkar emphasised the incredible synergy between Ranveer and Aditya Dhar. According to him, the actor dedicated three and a half years to the project and trusted the filmmaker’s vision completely. ‘One thing I want to tell you is that Ranveer Singh surrendered himself to Aditya Dhar. That is what true dedication is. He gave three-and-a-half years to this film. Which actor does that today?’ Bhandarkar remarked. He also noted that Ranveer embraced a subdued role in the first part without chasing conventional hero moments. ‘You have to give credit to Ranveer Singh because he understood the script. Many actors would have questioned why they were standing silently in the background while others were getting bigger moments. But he understood the character and trusted the narrative,’ Bhandarkar explained. The filmmaker also singled out several emotional scenes in the film, particularly praising Ranveer’s expressions and attention to detail. ‘The scene where he returns injured, the way he walks with a limp, the scene where he sees his mother and breaks down — just those clips alone make him worthy of a National Award,’ he added.
‘Dhurandhar’ changes the game for Bollywood
Bhandarkar didn’t stop at individual praise. He declared that ‘Dhurandhar’ has altered the industry’s approach to storytelling and filmmaking. ‘There will be a before Dhurandhar and after Dhurandhar. This film has changed the dynamics of the industry. It has changed scriptwriting and even the grammar of filmmaking,’ he stated. Comparing Ranveer’s performance to his iconic role as Alauddin Khilji in Padmaavat, Bhandarkar said Aditya Dhar took him ten folds higher. ‘This is a completely different Ranveer Singh,’ he said. The filmmaker also pointed out that audiences are sitting through a four-hour film without checking their phones, proving that content is king. ‘People don’t even watch a one-minute reel these days, but they are sitting through a four-hour film without taking out their phones. That tells you everything. Content is king,’ Bhandarkar remarked. He further claimed that the film’s impact has prompted several production houses to pause their scripts and rethink their own projects. Calling ‘Dhurandhar’ a landmark film, Bhandarkar concluded that it has redefined audience expectations and cemented Ranveer Singh’s place among the finest actors of his generation.