Dhurandhar producer Jyoti Deshpande compares film’s success to Sholay: ‘I can’t think of a film which has been as successful’

Opening up about the journey toward the sequel, Jyoti explained that the second installment was always dependent on the first film’s impact.

• Dhurandhar has broken box office records and sustained a 60-day theatrical run
• Producer Jyoti Deshpande compares Dhurandhar's impact to Sholay's legacy
• Dhurandhar 2 releases March 19, 2026, expanding to five languages

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Ranveer Singh-led Dhurandhar has been rewriting box office records since its release, and with its sequel slated to hit theatres on March 19, 2026, anticipation among fans is steadily building.

Amid the growing buzz, the film’s producer Jyoti Deshpande has drawn a striking parallel between the film’s phenomenal run and the legacy of Sholay.

In an open conversation with Fortune India, Jyoti Deshpande reflected on the scale of the film’s success and credited audiences for turning it into a cultural moment.

She said, “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.”

Highlighting its sustained theatrical run, she added, “It has been in the theatres for 60-plus days. After Sholay, I can’t think of a film which has been as successful. There is no greater accolade that we, 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.”

Opening up about the journey toward the sequel, Jyoti explained that the second installment was always dependent on the first film’s impact.

She shared, “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. We are so happy the audience took a shine to it. We believe 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.”

She further pointed out that Dhurandhar has surpassed several South Indian films in terms of reach, noting that viewership from southern states contributed three times more even to the Hindi version when compared to another major Hindi success. She also highlighted the film’s international resonance, mentioning that it has emerged as the most-watched film in Pakistan as well.

Also read: Dhurandhar becomes Netflix's most-watched film in India and Pakistan; tops global Non-English chart: Details inside

Summing up the film’s impact on the industry, Jyoti concluded by saying, “Many people from the industry who I deeply respect have told me that there is life before Dhurandhar and there is life after Dhurandhar; you have changed the grammar of storytelling.”

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge will delve into the rise of Hamza in Lyari Town, Pakistan, while also unpacking his backstory. Alongside Ranveer Singh, the spy action thriller boasts an ensemble cast featuring Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Danish Pandor, Rakesh Bedi, R. Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, and Sara Arjun.