Dhurandhar earns Sholay comparisons after breaking records; Film producer says, 'Success of Part 1 has been unprecedented'
Dhurandhar producer Jyoti Deshpande compared the film's success to Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra's Sholay and said that it’s something marketing money can’t buy and achieve.
Ranveer Singh in Dhurandhar
Last Updated: 11.32 AM, Feb 09, 2026
Dhurandhar undoubtedly set the standard for Indian cinema. Aditya Dhar's directorial broke records and emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film in a single language. Part 1's success built enough anticipation for the sequel, and amid this, Jyoti Despande, the producer of the film, compared Dhurandhar's success to Sholay.
Why was Dhurandhar compared to Sholay?
In a recent interview with Fortune India, Jyoti Despande, the producer of Dhurandhar, spoke about the record-breaking film and compared Dhurandhar’s success to Sholay. She said that this is not just a maker’s success; it is as much the audience's success. "It has been decades since we saw a film that has taken up the imagination of the movie-going public. They have made it a success by watching the film multiple times and talking about it. It has been in the theatres for 60-plus days,' she said.
Jyoti also added that after Sholay, she can't think of a more successful film. She shared that there is no greater accolade that they, as filmmakers, can receive than this. "It is something that we can’t script, it’s something marketing money can’t buy, something that money can’t achieve," added Jyoti.
What can fans expect from Dhurandhar: The Revenge?
Dhurandhar: The Revenge (Part 2), which will hit cinemas on March 19, 2026, will continue the story of Part 1. Jyoti said, "Had the first part not fired, the second one would have sat in our cupboard. However, we were sure the first part would fire, so we put that energy out."
She said that Dhurandhar 2 would be bigger than the first part. It’s going to be in five languages. "The success of Dhurandhar 1 in just one language has been so unprecedented. It has left behind South films. The contribution from the southern states, even for the Hindi original, is three times that of another successful Hindi film," Jyoti said.
Jyoti remarked that Dhurandhar was the most-watched film in Pakistan as well. She said that several people from the industry, whom she deeply admired, had told her that there was life before Dhurandhar and life after Dhurandhar, and that the film had transformed the very grammar of storytelling.
Dhurandhar 2 FAQs:
Q: What is the release date of Dhurandhar 2?
A: Dhurandhar 2 (officially titled Dhurandhar: The Revenge) is scheduled to release in theatres on March 19, 2026.
Q: Where to watch Dhurandhar 2 on OTT?
A: While Dhurandhar Part 1 is streaming on Netflix, Dhurandhar Part 2 will be released on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium) after its theatrical run.
Q: Who is the villain in Dhurandhar 2?
A: Arjun Rampal serves as the primary antagonist, portraying Major Iqbal. The sequel is expected to focus heavily on his character’s backstory and his role as the mastermind behind the conflict, leading to a final confrontation with Ranveer Singh’s character, Hamza.