Infiltration and retribution

 

“Dhurandhar 2”

– Review

Picking up exactly where the first film left off, the story follows Jaskirat Singh Rangi (Ranveer Singh), an undercover Indian agent who has now fully transitioned into his persona as Hamza Ali Mazari.

Following the death of the Lyari gang leader Rehman Dakait, Hamza rises to the top of Karachi’s criminal and political underworld.

However, the mission is no longer just about intelligence—it is personal.

Fueled by a past tragedy, Hamza must navigate a lethal web of ISI operatives, corrupt Sindh Police, and shifting gang loyalties to dismantle a massive terror network.

The narrative spans decades and borders, eventually leading to a showdown with the mastermind Major Iqbal (Arjun Rampal) and the elusive “Bade Sahab” (Danish Iqbal).

Director Aditya Dhar remains a master of tension and “peak detailing.” His execution is maximalist, favoring long, meticulously choreographed action sequences and a gritty, realistic atmosphere.

He successfully manages a sprawling cast and a complex, chapter-based narrative.

While the first half moves at a breakneck speed, the second half leans into a more emotional, character-driven space.

Delivering a career-best performance, Ranveer is the heart of the film. He seamlessly switches between the vulnerability of Jaskirat and the ferocious “Sher-e-Baloch” persona of Hamza. His physical transformation and emotional intensity are the film’s biggest strengths.

Arjun Rampal is menacing as Major Iqbal, providing a cold, calculating foil to Ranveer’s heat.

Sanjay Dutt brings a gritty, veteran energy as SP Chaudhary Aslam, a character inspired by real-life encounter specialists.

R. Madhavan is brilliant as the calm, strategic IB Director Ajay Sanyal. Sara Arjun (as Yalina) and Rakesh Bedi (as Jameel Jamali) provide much-needed emotional weight, while Gaurav Gera and Danish Pandor make significant impacts in their respective roles as the handler and the gang leader.

Yami Gautam makes a brief but pivotal “blink-and-miss” appearance as an operative named Shazia Bano, which has already become a major talking point.

While the original tracks by Shashwat Sachdev don’t quite reach the heights of the first film, the background score—especially during the climax—is thunderous and essential to the film’s impact. The use of repurposed old classics provides moments of high-energy nostalgia.

Cinematography by Vikash Nowlakha captures the varied terrains—from the freezing heights of Ladakh to the crowded, sweaty streets of Karachi (filmed in Bangkok)—with stunning clarity and a cinematic scale.

Given the 3-hour-49-minute runtime, the editing by Shivkumar V. Panicker is a monumental task.

Rating: 4.25/5

By Naveen