Raghavan on Dhurandhar: Admire, Don't Imitate

Director Sriram Raghavan has shared his perspective on the immense commercial and critical success of Aditya Dhar's recent film, "Dhurandhar." Raghavan, celebrated for his nuanced and intense storytelling, acknowledged the film's quality and its positive impact on Hindi cinema. However, he firmly stated that he would not adopt the filmmaking pattern employed by Dhar.

Speaking to The Hindu, the 62-year-old director commented, "It is a well-made film with terrific performances, but it is not our kind of film." He stressed the importance of recognizing diverse cinematic forms and warned against blindly following successful trends, deeming it "the silliest thing to do." Raghavan recalled sharing a National Award with Dhar for "Uri: The Surgical Strike" (2019), admiring Dhar's unique sensibility and craft.

Raghavan's upcoming film, "Ikkis," chronicles the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, a recipient of the Paramvir Chakra who was martyred in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. The film features debutants Agastya Nanda and Simar Bhatia, alongside Dharmendra's final big-screen appearance and performances by Rahul Dev and Jaideep Ahlawat. His previous directorial work, "Merry Christmas," blended romance with a whodunnit narrative.