'Dhurandhar' out on Netflix: Ranveer Singh-Akshaye Khanna's spy thriller's OTT debut may leave you disappointed despite big box office win. Here's why

Ranveer Singh-starrer 'Dhurandhar' is out on Netflix now. The much-awaited spy action movie, directed by Aditya Dhar, premiered on steaming giant Netflix at midnight on Friday after a phenomenal run in theatres and scoring Rs 1,000 crore at the box office. Though 'Dhurandhar' had a quiet debut on Netflix at midnight, fans were upset as the movie was censored for its OTT debut. Despite a successful theatrical run, viewers expressed their dissatisfaction following the OTT debut of 'Dhurandhar' due to significant alterations.

One major point of discussion was that Netflix's version of 'Dhurandhar' is nine minutes shorter than the original duration of 3 hours 34 minutes. The runtime of the film on the streaming platform read 3 hours and 25 minutes.

Netizens upset over Dhurandhar's OTT debut

Soon after 'Dhurandhar' started streaming on Netflix, social media was flooded with comments, mostly criticism with fans accusing the streaming platform of muting dialogues, censoring abusive language and trimming a total of 10 minutes of the film. Many even complained about the colour grading, sound and video quality on Netflix.


According to reports, the runtime of the movie was reduced after the makers were asked to mute "two words and one dialogue in reference to Baloch" in the movie. According to the revised censor certificate of Dhurandhar, its new runtime is 3 hours 28 minutes 56 seconds. The revised version of Dhurandhar started playing in theatres from January 1.

Fuming over the edits, fans of the Aditya Dhar directorial took to their handles to say that they had expected an uncensored version following its theatrical run. Several users even questioned the logic of censoring an adult film on an over-18 platform.

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Dhurandhar shorter on OTT platform

Viewers alleged that the OTT release of 'Dhurandhar' had been shortened by nearly 10 minutes. While Dhurandhar reportedly had a theatrical runtime of about 3 hours and 34 minutes, the digital version runs for roughly 3 hours and 25 minutes. “Cut version… around 10 minutes of footage deleted!” one user claimed, prompting others to call on the platform to “release the uncut version.” “Cut version uhh around 10 mins portions deleted!” one user claimed, prompting others to demand that the platform “release the uncut version.”

“@NetflixIndia, why have you censored the cuss words in #Dhurandhar? What’s the goddamn point if we can’t enjoy any movie properly? Do you censor cuss words in any English movie? No, right? Then why this discrimination? DISAPPOINTED,” one angry viewer wrote.

Fans react to 'Dhurandhar' getting censored

Several angry social media users flooded X on Friday morning claiming that the censored version of the movie was released on Netflix. "You certify the film as A but you have muted/censored words! Like are we bunch of 5y/o or what? Everyone in this app is over 18, there's no meaning in watching a film with lots of cuts and censoring. You're just stealing the natural raw vibe from it," one viewer wrote, while another added, "#Dhurandhar on Netflix with muted dialogues + censored abuses. If OTT isn’t giving us the uncut version, who is?"


Another wrote, “noooooo #Dhurandhar on Netflix still has the gaalis censored! bhai what is the point of releasing on OTT if you censor the best parts." Another elaborated, "A big letdown from you people @NetflixIndia Why the hell would you Censor it when everyone is expecting for an un censored version!! Censoring an A rated film itself is a joke whereas Animal and Kabir Singh has no cuts."

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Another wrote, “Seriously mood off hogya, I was hoping for uncensored version.” Some users even asked, "Kuch jugaad for uncensored version ke liye."

One posted, “The makers have really betrayed us. If you’re just going to mute everything anyway, then why the hell do you even give an A certificate? ���� censorship is a complete joke, nothing else.”

"The makers screwed up the runtime as well. What the f**k is this? They totally destroyed the mood, man. I hope at least we can get uncensored version,” one wrote, with another sharing, “#Dhurandhar Runtime on Netflix is 3H 25M because it's derived from the Theatrical Cut of 208 mins i.e. 3H 28M. The 214 min version (3H 34M) was likely removed from the theatres & replaced with this 208 mins version. Removing those extra 3 mins of (no smoking emoji) warnings & we get 3H 25M.”

“A big letdown from you people @NetflixIndia Why the hell would you Censor it when everyone is expecting for an un censored version!! Censoring an A rated film itself is a joke whereas Animal and Kabir Singh has no cuts . Go to h**l,” one wrote.


One comment read, “Chii @NetflixIndia ruined my mood , needed uncensored version.”

All about Dhurandhar's new version

At the 1 hour 55 minute counter of the film on the streamer, two references to the Baloch community made by Sanjay Dutt's SP Chaudhary Aslam is muted. In the original dialogue, the character called his former police partner who was a Baloch worse than a "crocodile".

"Police ke dinon mein mera ek Baloch partner tha... Hamesha bolta hoon Bade Sahab ko, magarmachh par bharosa kar sakte hain, par ek Baloch pe nahin," says SP Chaudhary Aslam in the original dialogue of Dhurandhar. The revised dialogue is, "Police ke dinon mein mera ek (mute) partner tha... Hamesha bolta hoon Bade Sahab ko, magarmachh par bharosa kar sakte hain, magar (mute) nahin."

Netflix is carrying the revised form of Dhurandhar after its production banners Jio Studios and B62 Studios were asked to mute the allegedly offensive references to the Baloch people.

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Dhurandhar's box office collection

Dhurandhar has emerged as a blockbuster following its theatrical run. The action spy thriller, directed by Aditya Dhar, released in cinemas on December 5 last year and went on to gross over ₹1,300 crore worldwide. Set in Pakistan, the film features Ranveer Singh as an Indian spy who infiltrates terror networks operating in Lyari. The cast also includes Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and R Madhavan in key roles. A sequel to Dhurandhar is slated for a theatrical release on March 19, where it will clash at the box office with Yash’s Toxic.