The Dhurandhar Shitstorm: Is Bollywood Officially in its Flop Era?Again?

Okay, stop everything you are doing. We need to talk. The vibes are officially off. First, it felt like Orry was having a bit of a downfall (we haven't seen that lobster phone in a minute, have we?), and now this?

If Dhurandhar's release day chaos is anything to go by, we have to ask: Is Bollywood in general having a downfall? Because the drama happening off-screen right now is giving more plot twists than an Abbas-Mustan movie. From Yami Gautam exposing the "PR Mafia" to critics literally getting ghosted at the theater, the internet is screaming. Grab your chai (or matcha), because we are spilling the scorching hot tea.

The Stakes: Why This Was Suppose to be HUGE

Before the "shitstorm" started, let’s talk about the "Main Character Energy" this film should have had. Directed by Aditya Dhar (the mastermind behind Uri), Dhurandhar is a massive ₹280 crore gamble.

• The Cast: Ranveer Singh (in full beast mode), Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. It’s basically the Avengers of intense acting.

• The Commitment: The runtime is 3 hours and 34 minutes. Bestie, that is not a movie; that is a shift. You need to plan your hydration strategy for this one.

• The Hype: Trade analysts were calling it the "massiest film of the year." But with great budget comes great responsibility, and the pressure was on. Spoiler alert: It imploded.

Yami Gautam Woke Up and Chose Violence

Just 48 hours before release, Yami Gautam Dhar (Aditya’s wife and our unbothered queen) dropped a nuclear bomb on Instagram. She called out a "monster" of paid PR and used the word "extortion."

• The Tea: She alleged that media portals demand money to hype films and run smear campaigns against those who don't pay up.

• The Mic Drop: She compared Bollywood to the South industry, saying the South stands united against this mess.

• The Reaction: Hrithik Roshan supported her in the comments, and suddenly, everyone was looking at trade analysts with side-eye. It set the stage for a "Us vs. Them" war right before opening day.

The "Ghosting" of the Critics

Imagine getting dressed up, driving to the theater, and the movie just... doesn't show up. That’s what happened to the press in Delhi and Mumbai.

• What Happened: Press screenings and cast-crew shows were cancelled after people had already arrived.

• The Excuse: Official word was "technical issues" and "content delivery failure."

• The Internet’s Theory: After Yami’s post, Reddit and Twitter (X) were convinced this was a tactical move to stop "paid critics" from trashing the movie before the audience saw it. It gave "You can't fire me, I quit" energy.

Technical Nightmares: IMAX and Overseas Fail

If you paid premium prices for an IMAX ticket, I am so sorry.

• IMAX delayed: The IMAX prints didn't reach theaters on Day 1. Halls had to play the standard version. For a visual spectacle, this is a major "L".

• Global Glitch: Fans in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji—who usually see the movie first because of time zones—were left hanging. Shows were cancelled or postponed because the prints literally didn't arrive. The math ain't mathing for a film of this scale.

The Taran Adarsh Mystery & The "Cursed" Narrative

This is where the internet detectives went full Sherlock.

• The Taran Situation: Taran Adarsh, who hyped the film beforehand, went suspiciously silent on release day. No review, no star rating. Reddit users accused him of posting "Google Images" to pretend he was watching it, fueling rumors that the "Paid PR" beef Yami mentioned was very real.

• The Controversies: Add in the legal battle with Major Mohit Sharma’s family (who claimed the film exploited his story without consent) and Ranveer’s Kantara mimicry backlash, and you have a perfect storm. The internet has officially dubbed the production "cursed."
  

TL;DR

• Film: Dhurandhar

• Director: Aditya Dhar (Uri: The Surgical Strike)

• Star Cast: Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun.

• Release Date: December 5, 2025

• Runtime: 3 hours 34 minutes (Plan your bathroom breaks!)

• Budget: Approx. ₹280 Crore

• The Verdict: A chaotic launch marred by technical failures and PR wars.

Fans Also Asked

1. Is Dhurandhar based on the true story of Major Mohit Sharma? Officially, the CBFC and makers state the film is a work of fiction inspired by true events. However, Major Mohit Sharma's family took legal action claiming the film exploits his life story without their consent, leading to disclaimer changes.

2. Why were the Dhurandhar press screenings cancelled? The official reason given was "insurmountable technical issues" and delays in delivering the final digital prints (DCP). However, online theories suggest it might have been a strategy to avoid negative pre-release reviews following Yami Gautam’s statement on paid PR.

3. What is the runtime of Ranveer Singh's movie Dhurandhar? The movie is a marathon, clocking in at 3 hours and 34 minutes. It is one of the longest Hindi films released in the last two decades, so prepare for a long sit!

4. What did Yami Gautam post about Dhurandhar PR? Yami Gautam posted a note on Instagram alleging that a "PR machinery" in Bollywood extorts filmmakers, demanding money for positive coverage and threatening negative campaigns if they don't pay. She called for the industry to stop this "bullying."

5. Is Dhurandhar releasing in IMAX? Yes, it was scheduled for IMAX, but due to delivery delays, the IMAX version was not available on opening day (Dec 5) in India. Theaters had to play the standard 2D version initially.