Dhurandhar faces streaming-quality backlash as sequel plans accelerate

“Dhurandhar,” the Ranveer Singh-led spy thriller directed by Aditya Dhar, has opened a new chapter in its run after arriving on a major streaming service late January—only to draw immediate complaints about picture quality and possible runtime differences. The online noise has not slowed the film’s momentum: theatrical earnings have continued to climb even after the home-release window began, and work on a follow-up is moving ahead on a fast timetable.

Streaming debut triggers quality complaints

Within hours of the film landing for at-home viewing on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 (ET), viewers began flagging what they described as washed-out colors, inconsistent contrast, and a softer, “lower-bitrate” look than expected for a big-budget release. The criticism centered less on the story and more on the technical presentation—color grading, compression artifacts, and perceived dips in sharpness during darker scenes.

By the weekend, the streaming version’s visuals appeared to improve for many users, consistent with a higher-quality encode being pushed out. Whether every region received the same upgrade at the same time remained unclear, and the service has not publicly detailed what changed under the hood.

Runtime dispute: edited cut or technical mismatch?

A second flashpoint is the film’s length. Some viewers insist the at-home version is shorter than the theatrical version, while others argue the differences are either minimal or tied to technical factors rather than content edits.

Two competing explanations are circulating:

• Actual trims: a handful of minutes removed, potentially for pacing or sensitivity concerns.

• Version variation: different “theatrical” prints (or late-stage refinements) leading to slightly different runtimes, with the streaming service distributing the master it received.

The streaming service has indicated it is distributing the file provided to it, while debate continues over whether the studio delivered a version that differs from what some audiences saw in cinemas.

Box office keeps climbing even after home release

Despite the shift to at-home availability, the film has continued adding to its theatrical totals, an uncommon outcome for most modern releases. The numbers being discussed in industry tracking place the worldwide gross above ₹1,300 crore by Monday, Feb. 2, 2026 (ET), with domestic net collections over ₹1,000 crore in India over the course of its run.

The takeaway for distributors and exhibitors is straightforward: the film’s audience has behaved more like an “event” audience than a typical front-loaded opening-weekend crowd, with repeat viewings and sustained interest helping extend the tail of the run.

Controversy flares again around themes and intent

As the film’s popularity expands, so does scrutiny of its tone and messaging. A filmmaker’s recent public comments have criticized “Dhurandhar” as having a troubling intent and accused it of stoking hate or violence. Supporters counter that the film operates within familiar spy-thriller conventions and that its fictionalization is being treated unfairly.

What is not publicly resolved is how much of the film’s story draws from real events versus invented narrative devices—and whether viewers interpret that blend as standard genre storytelling or something more pointed. The debate has sharpened because the film is now easier to access at home, allowing more viewers to parse specific scenes and dialogue.

Music buzz adds a softer counterweight

Alongside the controversy and technical complaints, the soundtrack has developed its own storyline. One song in particular, “Shararat,” has drawn attention for its emotional pull, with its composer describing it as rooted in personal experience and framed as carrying a social message. That backstory has helped the track travel beyond the film’s core fanbase, even as other songs from the album have been treated more as dance-floor or hype-set pieces.

The broader impact is that “Dhurandhar” is now being discussed on multiple lanes at once: box office, technical presentation, themes, and music—an unusual mix that keeps it in the daily conversation.

What’s next: Dhurandhar 2 already on the calendar

The follow-up is moving quickly. A sequel titled “Dhurandhar 2” is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2026 (ET), with reports of filming activity continuing in Mumbai. With the first film still generating revenue and debate, the studio appears to be leaning into momentum rather than waiting for the noise to settle.

A key test will be whether the team addresses the at-home presentation concerns more directly before the sequel’s marketing ramps up. If the streaming version stabilizes at consistently high quality, the controversy may fade into a footnote. If not, it risks becoming a recurring talking point each time a new home-release window opens.

Sources consulted: India Today; The Indian Express; NDTV; Encyclopaedia Britannica