Mumbai: Aditya Dhar’s blockbuster espionage thriller ‘Dhurandhar’, starring Ranveer Singh as an undercover Indian agent infiltrating Pakistan’s criminal underworld, entered the New Year with a few subtle changes.
A new version of the film began screening in cinemas across India on Thursday, following directives from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) to mute certain words and alter one dialogue.
Distributors issued urgent instructions on December 31, 2025, for theatres to replace the existing Digital Cinema Package (DCP) with the new one. One of the muted terms is reportedly “Baloch,” featured in a line delivered by Sanjay Dutt’s character. Details on the other changes remain undisclosed, but the modifications are described as minor, according to a Bollywood Hungama report.
Despite sparking debates over its nationalistic tone and portrayal of geopolitical tensions, ‘Dhurandhar’ has shattered records since its December 5, 2025, release. The film has crossed the Rs 1,100 crore worldwide mark, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film ever and the top Indian earner of 2025.
In India alone, it surpassed Rs 720 crore by its 27th day, outperforming previous giants like ‘Pathaan’, ‘Jawan’, and ‘Chhaava’.
“Dhurandhar ends 2025 with a BIG BANG and begins 2026 with the aim of emerging as the highest-grossing Hindi film ever. The film continues its phenomenal, record-smashing run, with business on the fourth Wednesday staying in double digits. YES, double-digit collections for 27 days non-stop – the ONLY Hindi film to achieve this historic feat,” movie critic Taran Adarsh posted on X.
Ranveer Singh’s intense performance as Hamza Ali Mazari (alias Jaskirat Singh), alongside a stellar ensemble including Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi, Gaurav Gera and Sara Arjun, has been widely praised for its depth and action sequences.
While the film’s domestic dominance remains unchallenged, with strong word-of-mouth propelling extended runs into 2026, its international run has faced hurdles, including a ban across Gulf countries, which is a big market for Indian cinema.
The journey for the franchise is far from over with the much-awaited next installment scheduled to hit theatres on March 19.
