Tigmanshu Dhulia Calls Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’ ‘Story‑less’, Triggers a Social Media Uproar

At a recent panel on “The State of Media and the Film Industry,” veteran director‑writer Tigmanshu Dhulia didn’t mince words about the Ranveer Singh‑led Dhurandhar franchise. He said the movies, in his view, "have no story" and accused today’s Bollywood of following a single, profit‑centric formula.

“If you ask anyone what the story of Dhurandhar is, you’ll end up with something like ‘a guy goes to Pakistan and creates havoc’. That’s not a story, it’s just a set‑piece,” Dhulia told the audience. He went on to suggest that storytellers who try to break the mold are often sidelined because producers fear their films won’t sell.

The Dhurandhar duo, both written and directed by Aditya Dhar, stars Ranveer Singh as an undercover Indian intelligence officer who infiltrates Karachi’s underworld and attempts to dismantle a terror network targeting India. The first installment also featured Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt and R. Madhavan, while the sequel added Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun and Danish Pandor to the mix.

Dhulia’s remarks instantly lit up social media. Fans rushed to the filmmaker’s Instagram post, defending the film as a patriotic tribute. One commenter wrote, “You didn’t even watch it, Tigmanshu ji – it’s about our brave soldiers protecting the motherland.” Others compared the franchise to classic masala hits, even joking that even “Sholay’s story was simple.” A few users reminded him that the plot draws from real‑life incidents, insisting that “it’s based on true events, not fiction.”

Beyond the specific critique, Dhulia used the moment to launch a broader lament about “extreme capitalism.” He argued that when money becomes the sole ruler, creativity and regional distinctiveness suffer. “Look at our cities – the same malls, the same haircuts. Even Allahabad (now Prayagraj) looks like any other town. That homogenisation seeps into cinema, eroding individuality,” he said.

The veteran, known for hard‑hitting films like Haasil and Paan Singh Tomar, hinted that his next project will be a ZEE5 Original titled Ghamasan, starring Arshad Warsi and Pratik Gandhi, slated to stream on September 11.

Whether Dhulia’s comments will shift the industry's trajectory remains to be seen, but the debate has already shown how passionately audiences defend their favourite stars and stories – even when the narrative itself is under fire.