Kangana Ranaut says Dhurandhar revived Bollywood, lauds R Madhavan’s performance: 'Very close to Ajit Doval'

Kangana Ranaut has credited the Dhurandhar franchise for breathing new life into the Indian film industry, calling it a much-needed reset at a time when Bollywood was struggling to stay relevant.Speaking about the success of the Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the actor said the film has reignited audience interest and bridged the gap between cinema and viewers.“The film industry, in a way, was becoming disconnected from the country. Audience participation had declined, studios were depleting, and people didn't want to watch these films anymore. South Indian films received a greater entry and much recognition, especially because of their culture-focused content and regionally relevant stories,” Kangana told ANI.Highlighting the massive box office success of the franchise, she added that films rooted in relatable narratives are what audiences are gravitating towards.“With such relevant films, people want to watch them. The country has identified such films. You can see how the film has done an amazing business as people wanted to see their own stories. Dhurandhar has revived the film industry and gave a new hope,” she stated. Kangana also praised her Tanu Weds Manu co-star R Madhavan for his performance in the film, particularly for portraying a character inspired by Ajit Doval.“Madhavan was terrific in the film. I have met Ajit Doval ji and he has got a huge personality. I think there should be an entirely separate film on Ajit Doval. Only then an actor would be able to do justice to his character. But Madhavan was very close. He is a very good actor,” she said. Headlined by Ranveer Singh, Dhurandhar 2 features an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi, Gaurav Gera and Sara Arjun, with Akshaye Khanna playing a pivotal role in the first instalment.The sequel, released in March this year, has emerged as a box office juggernaut, collecting over Rs 1700 crore globally and continuing its strong run across multiple territories.The Dhurandhar franchise has now crossed the Rs 3000 crore milestone globally—becoming the first Indian film series to achieve the feat.