Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Feb 24: Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has made a bold prediction about Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, calling it a potential “asteroid strike” that could permanently alter the trajectory of pan-India commercial cinema.

The sequel to last year’s blockbuster Dhurandhar is slated for a theatrical release on March 19. Sharing his views on X, Varma claimed the film could “completely and permanently obliterate the pan-India south films movement” by setting a new benchmark with ultra-realistic storytelling and deeper characterisation.

He wrote that once audiences experience this “new standard,” many big-budget masala films currently in production could struggle to compete. According to him, projects relying heavily on scale, VFX and gravity-defying action may face dwindling returns if audience tastes shift toward more grounded, character-driven narratives.

Varma further suggested that producers investing heavily in formulaic entertainers might encounter “empty theatres and career-ending losses,” while directors would need to reinvent themselves to meet evolving audience expectations. He also remarked that superstars depending on hero worship may find themselves challenged by characters who evolve into heroes organically within the story.

Calling the March 19 release more than “just another film,” Varma described Dhurandhar 2 as a turning point that could signal the end of what he termed the “dinosaur era” of filmmaking dominated by spectacle-driven masala treatments.

About Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge

Directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy thriller explores the backstory of Ranveer’s character Hamza, who completes his mission by taking over a criminal syndicate in Pakistan, culminating in a face-off with Arjun Rampal’s character.

The film stars Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan and Sara Arjun.

Box office clash with Toxic

The film will face competition from Toxic: A Fairytale for Grownups, headlined by Yash. Directed by Geetu Mohandas and co-written by Yash and Mohandas, the film also features Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth and Tara Sutaria.

Produced by Venkat K Narayana and Yash under the banners of KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, Toxic marks Yash’s first release since the KGF franchise.

With both high-profile films set to hit theatres on the same day, March 19 promises to be a major showdown at the box office.