Tigmanshu Dhulia blasts Dhurandhar’s plot; blames extreme capitalism for Hollywood‑style sameness

In a recent gathering hosted by the Editors Guild of India, veteran filmmaker and actor Tigmanshu Dhulia voiced strong criticism of the plot of the Dhurandhar duology, questioning whether the story truly qualifies as a narrative. Speaking about the Ranveer Singh‑starrer action thriller, Dhulia remarked that the premise—a covert spy infiltrating Pakistan and stirring up trouble—does not constitute a story, saying, “If you ask about his story, you won’t be able to tell the story of Dhurandhar. There is a man who is an undercover spy, he goes to Pakistan and creates a ruckus there. This is not a story.”

Beyond the specific film, Dhulia highlighted what he sees as a broader issue in contemporary Hindi cinema: a growing reliance on familiar templates driven by what he terms “extreme capitalism.” He warned that commercial concerns often dictate the type of stories that reach audiences, noting that “stories are over in films. First of all, the storytellers are over and what they want to say is not allowed to be made.” According to him, filmmakers fear that certain narratives may not succeed commercially, leading to a homogenised output that he describes as a single, repetitive template.

Dhulia extended his critique to everyday life, suggesting that the same forces of commercialisation have produced a sameness in fashion and urban identity. He observed, “People also start looking the same. You go to a boy’s fashion. Everybody looks the same. Same haircut. Every city looks the same. The character of every city is over.”

While the discussion focused on the Dhurandhar series, Dhulia also promoted his forthcoming directorial venture, Ghamasaan, which will premiere on ZEE5 on September 11. The film stars Pratik Gandhi as an STF officer and Arshad Warsi as a feared dacoit leader, set against the rugged backdrop of Bundelkhand. The plot follows the officer’s pursuit of the dacoit, uncovering layers of political corruption that complicate the mission beyond a simple manhunt. After a two‑year delay, the film is finally slated for a digital release.