Cinema VinesSanju Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, has publicly praised the Dhurandhar film franchise, calling it a “storytelling triumph” and urging viewers to embrace diverse cinematic voices. In an interview with News18, the economist said, “I did watch those two Dhurandar films and I really loved them.” He added that the movies introduced him to actors he had not previously known, noting, “I literally know who they are because of Dhurandhar.”
The franchise, directed by HTon Google filmmaker Aditya Dhar, opened with its first installment in December 2025. That film earned more than ₹1,300 crore worldwide, while the sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, became the first Bollywood production to cross ₹1,000 crore at the domestic box office. Together, the two movies have grossed over ₹3,000 crore globally. Despite their commercial success, the series has faced accusations of “propaganda” and has been criticized for its depiction of violence.
When asked about the propaganda label, Sanyal defended the right of filmmakers to present varied perspectives. He remarked, “My view is, let a hundred flowers bloom. If you don’t like Dhurandhar, don’t watch it. If you don’t like Revolutionaries, don’t watch it. My idea is to present my ideas.” He cited the historical tendency for films to lean heavily left‑wing and suggested that audiences should simply choose what they enjoy.
Starring Ranveer Singh, along with Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi, Sara Arjun, Akshaye Khanna and Sanjay Dutt, both Dhurandhar films received critical acclaim in addition to box‑office success. The franchise’s popularity has spurred interest in related projects, including Sanyal’s upcoming show, The Revolutionaries, which is based on his book Revolutionaries: The Other Story Of How India Won Its Freedom.
Directed by Nikkhil Advani, The Revolutionaries will follow young Indian freedom fighters who believed armed resistance was essential to ending British colonial rule. The series features a cast that includes Bhuvan Bam, Rohit Saraf, Pratibha Ranta, Gurfateh Pirzada, Jason Shah and Pratik Motwani. It is slated for release on Prime Video on September 11. During the trailer launch, Bhuvan Bam expressed confidence in the project, saying, “This show will be the year’s best show… watch it with your friends and family.”
