Casting Director Mukesh Chhabra has come out in strong defense of Aditya Dhar's much-anticipated spy thriller Dhurandhar, slamming the wave of negative online reviews circulating before the film's release as baseless and premature. In a fiery post on X, Chhabra, who served as one of the heads of department on the project, wrote, "How amazingly it has turned out. I've been reading so many unnecessary negative reviews, and honestly, it's very funny. They even had to cancel the cast and crew screening because of a technical glitch. Kya log hain... kisi ne film dekhi bhi nahi, but negativity ke liye ready hain. Haha. Phaad degi box office! Can't wait for the magic."

The controversy erupted after the press screening was abruptly cancelled, fueling speculation among netizens that Dhurandhar—starring Ranveer Singh in his big-screen comeback after two years—was merely "average" or worse. Chhabra's outburst echoes sentiments from actress Yami Gautam, who earlier condemned "extortion-like" paid campaigns masquerading as marketing hype or sabotage in Bollywood. In a detailed note, Gautam decried the trend of funding negativity against films or stars pre-release, calling it a "plague" that threatens the industry's future and praising the united front of South Indian cinema against such tactics.

Dhurandhar, a two-part espionage saga inspired by real events, features Ranveer Singh as undercover agent Hamza Ali Mazhari infiltrating Karachi's underworld, alongside a powerhouse ensemble including Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, and Sara Arjun. Early audience reactions post-release have been largely positive, with fans hailing it as a "brutal cinematic experience" and "high-adrenaline patriotic action drama" that delivers Hollywood-level thrills. Critics have praised Ranveer's "most intense performance yet," though some noted the nearly 3.5-hour runtime could benefit from tighter editing. Trade reports indicate a strong opening, with Rs 17.44 crore net collected in India by 6 p.m. on day one.

Also Read: Haq Director Suparn Varma Supports Violence in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, Citing Cinematic Freedom

Gautam, who plays a key role, elaborated on the "so-called trend of giving money... to ensure good 'hype' for that film, or else 'they' will continuously write negative things," labeling it extortion that harms everyone involved. She warned that exposing such manipulations over the past five years would reveal an "unpretty picture," urging Bollywood to emulate the solidarity seen in regional industries.

Chhabra's post, which garnered thousands of likes and supportive replies, underscores growing frustration with pre-release toxicity, especially for high-stakes films like Dhurandhar, backed by Jio Studios and B62 Studios. As part two is slated for summer 2026, the backlash has only amplified buzz, with many viewing it as a desperate bid to undermine a project poised for box-office dominance.

The film's narrative weaves national security, vengeance, and real historical tragedies like the IC-814 hijack and 26/11 attacks into a gripping tale of covert operations, earning accolades for its immersive world-building and stellar cast dynamics. With Ranveer's feral intensity and Akshaye Khanna's scene-stealing villainy drawing particular praise, Dhurandhar appears set to silence doubters and reaffirm Singh's star power.

Also Read: Haq Director Suparn Varma Supports Violence in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, Citing Cinematic Freedom