Bollywood
From Animal to Dhurandhar: Sandeep Reddy Vanga Reviews the 214 Minute Spy Epic; Calls it Dominant and Fierce
In a significant nod from one powerhouse filmmaker to another, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the director behind the global blockbusters Animal and Kabir Singh, has showered high praise on Aditya Dhar's latest spy-action thriller, Dhurandhar. Known for his unapologetic style of filmmaking and masculine storytelling, Vanga took to social media to share his thoughts on the film, which has been making waves for its gritty realism and high-octane action. In a tweet that has since gone viral, Sandeep Reddy Vanga described Dhurandhar as a film that carries a masculine spine and moves with dominance and fierce. Vanga, whose own film Animal redefined the landscape of A-rated Indian cinema, lauded the film's clarity and lack of chaos, stating: DHURANDHAR is built like a man who doesn't talk much & carries a masculine spine.... The title fits because the film moves with dominance and fierce. The depiction is very clear with zero chaos. Music, performances, screenplay & direction are on the top. He specifically highlighted the performances of the leads, noting that Akshaye Khanna and Ranveer Singh erased into air and just disappeared into characters effortlessly. He concluded by thanking director Aditya Dhar for allowing audiences to experience the true weight of untold sacrifices. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) DHURANDHAR is built like a man who doesn"™t talk much & carries a masculine spine.... DHURANDHAR The title fits because the film moves with dominance & fierce. The depiction is very clear with zero chaos. Music, performances, screenplay & direction are on the top. #AkshayKhanna"¦— Sandeep Reddy Vanga (@imvangasandeep) December 20, 2025 The association between Animal and Dhurandhar started long before Vanga's review. When the first trailers for Dhurandhar dropped, cinephiles quickly drew parallels between the two. Epic Runtimes: Much like Animal's 3-hour-21-minute odyssey, Dhurandhar boasts a massive runtime of 214 minutes (3 hours and 34 minutes). The A Factor: Both films received an Adult (A) certificate from the CBFC for their raw violence and intense themes. Hyper-Masculinity: While Animal focused on a volatile father-son dynamic, Dhurandhar applies a similar hyper-masculine lens to the world of international espionage and RAW operations. Dhurandhar has officially cemented its status as a Box Office Monster. After completing its first 14 days in theaters, the film has shown incredible holding power, particularly in the mass circuits. As of the end of its second week, the film's domestic performance is record-breaking, with an India Net Collection of ₹460.5 Cr and an India Gross Collection of ₹552.5 Cr. Its dominance isn't limited to the home turf; the film has raked in ₹158 Cr from Overseas markets, bringing its total Worldwide Collection to a staggering ₹710.5 Cr. While Dhurandhar initially trailed slightly behind Animal's historic opening weekend, its masculine spine and strong word-of-mouth have given it extraordinary legs. Heading into its third week, the momentum remains red-hot. Early estimates for Day 15 (2nd Friday) suggest a collection of ₹22.50 Cr, indicating that the film is poised for a massive third weekend that could see it challenging Animal's lifetime worldwide gross of ₹915 Cr.