But when Meghna Gulzar stepped onto the mic for the Learn By KK Create podcast, she didn’t waste time with the usual fluff. She dropped a single, punchy line: “Raazi’s characters are no less patriotic than Dhurandhar’s.”
Let’s backtrack a bit. Raazi, the 2018 spy‑thriller that roped in Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, carved a niche as a female‑led blockbuster. It raked in 15 award nominations and bagged five accolades, tying with Andhadhun for the most wins that year.
Contrast that with Dhurandhar, the Aditya Dhar‑directed juggernaut that roared onto screens on December 5 2025. With Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan and Sanjay Dutt, the franchise has already amassed a staggering Rs 3,000 crore across two films, the first on December 5, 2025 and the sequel on March 19, 2026.
When asked how the two franchises differ, Gulzar let her words linger: “Patriotism and prayers don’t need volume. They aren’t one‑size‑fits‑all; every individual expresses it his own way.” She added that Raazi’s moral compass is tight, not its patriotic fervor.
The conversation didn’t stay neutral for long. Harinder S. Sikka, the original author of the 2008 novel on which Raazi is based, slammed the film’s deviations, calling them a betrayal of his narrative. Yet Gulzar insists the emotional core remains intact.
The debate is widening: fans who love Dhurandhar’s high‑octane patriotism are now weighing it against Raazi’s nuanced, quieter devotion. Either way, the question remains: can a film win hearts without shouting its message?
What’s next? Both franchises are poised for a new chapter, and Meghna Gulzar’s comments might just add another layer to the conversation that will echo well beyond the box office.