Imtiaz Ali hails Dhurandhar as a rule-breaking blockbuster
- Imtiaz Ali spoke at the 24th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2026.
- He revealed that Bollywood insiders initially labeled the film Dhurandhar as impractical.
- The two-part Dhurandhar franchise has grossed over ₹3,000 crore worldwide.
- Dhurandhar will open the Indian Panorama section at IFFI 2026 in Goa.
- The films were considered for the 2027 Oscars but were not selected by the jury.
Director Imtiaz Ali addressed the 24th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on November 14, 2026, to discuss the widespread initial skepticism from Bollywood insiders regarding the blockbuster film Dhurandhar. Many within the industry previously labeled the project as an impractical and unrealistic production with little chance of success.
The film eventually defied these expectations to become a ₹3,000 crore franchise and a blockbuster success. This performance signaled a new era for Hindi cinema after the film broke established industry rules.
Imtiaz Ali told Sonal Kalra, the Chief Managing Editor of Entertainment and Lifestyle at Hindustan Times, that many Bollywood insiders considered Dhurandhar an unrealistic film with little chance of success, yet it defied expectations. During the summit, he said, "Dhurandhar broke all the rules, and after that everybody wants to make that".
Financial performance of the Dhurandhar franchise
The first film in the series earned ₹841 crore net in India and $33 million overseas. It finished its theatrical run with a worldwide gross of ₹1,308 crore after more than 14 weeks.
By 16 April 2026, the second film earned over ₹1,025 crore net in India and ₹1,720 crore worldwide. Makers claim the worldwide gross for the sequel exceeds ₹1,760 crore.
Aditya Dhar’s two films together have earned over ₹3,000 crore. The franchise is valued at ₹3,000 crore. Total worldwide gross estimates for the two films range between ₹3,000 crore and ₹3,110 crore.
Ali discusses industry trends and audience attention spans
Imtiaz Ali described the current film industry as being in a "delicious phase" of introspection. He noted that while audiences lack attention span, three-hour films continue to perform well.
Ali observed that people often cite the Dhurandhar franchise as an example of a successful film despite its long duration.
Oscar jury rejects Dhurandhar films for 2027 entry
Neither of the films was selected for the final nomination.
Jury member Vivek Vaswani said the films were not Oscar contenders and did not represent Indian culture in the manner the jury required. The first film received four votes out of the 14-member jury.
The selection pool included 14 Hindi, four Marathi, four Telugu, three Gujarati, three Tamil, one Malayalam, one Nepali, and one film from Nagaland.
Dhurandhar to open IFFI 2026 in Goa
The film Dhurandhar will open the Indian Panorama section of the 57th International Film Festival of India in Goa. This festival is scheduled to take place from 20 to 28 November 2026.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant unveiled the 2026 program at a press conference alongside festival director Ashutosh Gowariker. The festival lineup includes over 150 international films from 86 countries.
Imtiaz Ali reflects on his recent work
Imtiaz Ali described his year as delightful. His recent film Main Vaapas Aaunga was a surprise hit at the box office.
Production details of the Dhurandhar series
Aditya Dhar directed both films in the Dhurandhar series.
Ranveer Singh played the lead role in the series, which turned into a blockbuster.
Frequently Asked Questions
- At HTLS, Imtiaz Ali hails Dhurandhar, says many in Bollywood called it an impractical film, least likely to succeed | Bollywood (hindustantimes.com)
- Imtiaz Ali at HTLS: Bollywood Doubted 'Dhurandhar's' Success, Now It's a ₹3000 Cr Franchise - Andhravilas.net (andhravilas.net)
- 'Ramayana,' 'Fatherland,' 'Dhurandhar' Lead IFFI Goa 2026 Lineup (variety.com)
- "<i>Dhurandhar</i> Was The Most Impractical Film": Imtiaz Ali On Why Studios Intially Doubted Ranveer Singh's Film (ndtv.com)
- "Dhurandhar Was The Most Impractical Film": Imtiaz Ali On Why Studios Intially Doubted Ranveer Singh's Film (ndtv.com)
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