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‘Dhurandhar could run because you walked ’: Aditya Dhar tells Ram Gopal Varma, credits him for taking risks

Dhurandhar director Aditya Dhar said he was inspired by the films of Ram Gopal Varma, adding how he took risks at a time when there were no ‘safety nets’.

Updated on: Dec 21, 2025 03:19 PM IST
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Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh in the lead role, is proving to be unstoppable at the box office. The spy thriller directed by Aditya Dhar was released in theatres on December 5. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma showered praise on the film a few days ago and called it a ‘quantum leap’ in Indian cinema. Now, Aditya has credited Ram Gopal Varma for inspiring him with his films, and taking risks when ‘it was the hardest.’

What RGV said

Aditya Dhar has praised Ram Gopal Varma for taking risks and creating a legacy with his films.
Aditya Dhar has praised Ram Gopal Varma for taking risks and creating a legacy with his films.

RGV took to his X account on Sunday and reacted to a post stating that several directors, ranging from SS Rajamouli to Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Aditya Dhar, have revealed that they were influenced by his films. RGV created gritty and powerful action dramas, including Satya, Siva, Company, and Sarkar.

In the caption, RGV wrote, “This reminds me of a female model who became immensely popular in a soap commercial .. The owner of the brand asked his board. “Ok, we made the model popular, but what about the soap?” Likewise it sounds nice that i INSPIRED all these great directors to become GREAT , but when will me , the INSPIRER become GREAT ?"

Earlier, Aditya had shared that he came to Mumbai with the dream of working with him one day. “I came to Mumbai years ago carrying one suitcase, one dream, and an unreasonable belief that I would one day work under Ram Gopal Verma. That never happened. But somewhere along the way, without knowing it, I worked inside your cinema. Your films didn’t teach me how to make movies — they taught me how to think dangerously,” he said.

He also called RGV as one of his favourite directors, and added, “You were one of my favourite directors who made Indian cinema feel fearless, impolite, and alive. If Dhurandhar has even a fraction of that DNA, it’s because your films whispered (sometimes screamed) in my head while I was writing and directing it.”

About Dhurandhar

Dhurandhar follows the story of an Indian spy named Hamza, who infiltrates Pakistan deeply to join Rehman Dakait's gang. The film is inspired by real-life events, ranging from the 2001 Parliament attack and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, offering audiences an insight into the India-Pakistan conflict. It also stars Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi in pivotal roles. The second part will be released in theatres on March 19. 2026.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Santanu Das

Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and film festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several film festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent film/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified film critic. When not watching films or speaking to celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and celebrity culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupecha

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