Author and columnist Shobhaa De has shared her “capsule review” of the highly anticipated Dhurandhar 2, and her verdict is a mix of praise and sharp critique. While the film has been breaking box office records since its March 19 release, De admits she wasn’t as “ecstatic” this time around, citing a sense of deja vu and a lack of the psychological depth that made the first installment a hit.
The “Good News” vs. The “Bad News”
In a video posted to her Instagram, De broke down her experience watching the four-hour spy thriller:
- The Good: She stayed awake and engaged. She praised the “neat twists” before the interval and at the finale, and particularly enjoyed the creative use of the song Rasputin.
- The Bad: De found the script predictable and “spelled out for dummies.” She critiqued the excessive use of tropes, “action for the sake of action,” and cars blowing up in a style she compared to Rohit Shetty.
- The “Salon-Wild” Hero: She poked fun at Ranveer Singh’s hair, noting it remained “carefully sprayed into place” even during the bloodiest combat scenes.
Performance Showdown: Rampal Over Ranveer?
In a surprising shift from her review of the first film—where she claimed Ranveer “chewed up the entire film”—De felt the supporting cast stole the spotlight this time.
“Arjun Rampal, he chewed up everyone, including Ranveer. Sorry Ranveer, but he did,” she stated. She also hailed Sanjay Dutt’s performance as “impeccable” and “menacing,” noting he was a constant, commanding presence on screen.
The “Rehman Dakait” Void
Perhaps the biggest critique was the absence of Akshaye Khanna. De noted that without his character, Rehman Dakait, the film lacked a certain “style” and “glamour.” She specifically missed the impromptu, quirky energy Khanna brought to the first film, noting that the new Baloch dance sequence couldn’t quite compete with the viral FA9LA moment from Part 1.
Final Verdict: “Not a Masterpiece”
Despite the hype and the “masterpiece” labels being thrown around by fans, Shobhaa De remained unconvinced. She observed fellow theater-goers scrolling on their phones—a “bad sign” for a movie that is supposed to be edge-of-the-seat entertainment. She concluded by calling the teary Pathankot finale a “total anti-climax.”
