Filmmaker Aditya Dhar&rsquo;s spy thriller Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, continues to generate strong buzz following its release, earning praise from audiences and members of the film industry alike. Grammy Award-winning musician Ricky Kej has now joined the list of admirers, calling the film a &ldquo;spy thriller done correctly,&rdquo; while also making a pointed remark aimed at Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone&rsquo;s Pathaan.
Sharing his views on social media, Kej described Dhurandhar as a landmark moment for Indian cinema. He praised the film&rsquo;s performances, editing, dialogues and technical finesse, stating that its three-and-a-half-hour runtime passes swiftly. He also applauded the music and congratulated director Aditya Dhar, calling him a filmmaker incapable of delivering anything short of brilliance.
Kej further added that criticism of the film largely came from those who may not have watched it, noting that Dhurandhar presents harsh realities without sugar-coating and is clearly meant for adult audiences. In an apparent dig at Pathaan, he remarked that some viewers prefer stylised portrayals such as a &ldquo;sexy Pakistani ISI agent dancing in a bikini&rdquo; over realistic storytelling, indirectly referencing the controversial song Besharam Rang.
Directed by Siddharth Anand, Pathaan starred Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham and emerged as a massive box office success, earning over ₹1,050 crore worldwide. However, the film also sparked controversy over Padukone&rsquo;s appearance in a saffron-coloured bikini in one of its songs.
Ricky Kej, a three-time Grammy Award winner and four-time nominee, is best known for his globally acclaimed projects Winds of Samsara and Divine Tides, the latter earning him multiple Grammy honours, including one for Best Immersive Audio Album.
Inspired by real-life incidents, Dhurandhar is written and directed by Aditya Dhar and features an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Gaurav Gera, Danish Pondar and Naveen. Despite mixed critical reviews&mdash;largely centred on its length and pacing&mdash;the film has resonated strongly with audiences. Driven by positive word of mouth, it has become the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2025 within just eight days of release, collecting ₹372 crore worldwide.
Fans are now looking forward to the film&rsquo;s sequel, scheduled for release on March 19, 2026, where it will clash at the box office with Yash&rsquo;s Toxic: A Fairytale for the Grown-Ups.

Dhurandhar team celebrates growing audience acclaim

Dhurandhar earns industry praise as Ricky Kej questions Pathaan-style cinema

Ricky Kej Calls Dhurandhar a Perfect Spy Film

Dhurandhar earns industry praise as Ricky Kej questions Pathaan-style cinema

December 13, 2025 | 17:37 IST