Smriti Irani, Samantha Ruth Prabhu Applaud Performances in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar

Aditya Dhar's espionage thriller Dhurandhar continues to dominate conversations in Bollywood, with celebrities like Smriti Irani and Samantha Ruth Prabhu publicly showering praise on its standout performances just 10 days after its December 5 release. The film, starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun, has been lauded for its gripping narrative inspired by real-life covert operations and geopolitical tensions. Irani, the former actress and BJP leader known for her role in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, revisited her appreciation for Khanna's portrayal of gangster Rehman Dakait by sharing a nostalgic clip from the 2010 film Tees Maar Khan.

In the viral Tees Maar Khan scene, Akshay Kumar's character excitedly demands an Oscar for Khanna's role, a moment that has resonated anew with Dhurandhar's success. Irani captioned the Instagram post, "When Akshaye Khanna has surpassed all expectations & you too want to yell... de do Oscar 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 #dhurandhar," echoing fan sentiments about Khanna's chilling blend of vulnerability and menace that has stolen scenes across the nearly three-and-a-half-hour runtime. This marks Irani's second endorsement, following her earlier heartfelt review where she called Khanna's performance "a lesson in craft" and praised director Dhar's meticulous research into themes of patriotism and loss.

South Indian star Samantha Ruth Prabhu, fresh off her recent wedding, joined the chorus by declaring herself a lifelong fan of Ranveer Singh on her social media handles. Posting the film's poster on Instagram Stories, she wrote, "Still buzzing after #dhurandhar 🧨🧨🧨 The big screen experience, the immersion, the thrill. And @ranveersingh 🙌🙌🙌. Unreal. A shapeshifter, a joy, forever a fan." Samantha highlighted Singh's transformative portrayal of undercover agent Hamza Ali Mazari, crediting his restraint and intensity for anchoring the film's high-stakes action and emotional depth.

Also Read: Ranveer Singh’s 'Dhurandhar' Crosses Rs 550 Crore Worldwide, Dominates Box Office

The endorsements come amid Dhurandhar's box office triumph, crossing Rs 365 crore net in India and Rs 552 crore worldwide, buoyed by strong word-of-mouth and minimal competition during the holiday season. Critics have noted the film's ambitious world-building in Karachi's underworld, though some pointed to pacing issues in its extended length. Farah Khan, who directed Khanna in Tees Maar Khan, also amplified the Oscar buzz by sharing a fan edit linking the two films, affirming Khanna's evolution as an actor.

Dhurandhar's reception underscores Bollywood's resurgence in large-scale patriotic thrillers, with a confirmed sequel slated for March 19, 2026. The film's ensemble dynamics, from Singh's brooding spy to Khanna's menacing antagonist, have sparked discussions on character inspirations drawn from real figures like Operation Lyari and RAW operatives, blending fiction with historical grit.

As celebrity acclaim fuels further viewership, the film stands as a testament to collaborative storytelling, with Irani and Samantha's posts reflecting broader audience euphoria. With theaters reporting packed houses, Dhurandhar not only entertains but also evokes national pride, positioning it as a frontrunner for 2025's top Hindi releases.

Also Read: Dhurandhar Storms Past Rs 350 Crore in Just 10 Days With Massive Second Weekend