RGV: Dhurandhar vs Toxic - Truth vs Style

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has offered a unique perspective on the impending box office collision between Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar and Yash's Toxic, both slated for release on March 19, 2026. Varma provocatively labeled this encounter '#Dhuroxic,' setting up a dramatic contest between deeply realistic cinema and fantastical filmmaking. He elaborated on Dhurandhar's foundation in cause-and-effect, where characters act out of necessity, and violence stems from moral and political roots, respecting an intelligent audience. This stands in stark contrast to Toxic's approach, which Varma suggests prioritizes style over logic and spectacle over emotional engagement.

Varma further detailed the philosophical divide, stating Dhurandhar "respects grim reality" and "unsettles" with human protagonists who can falter. Conversely, Toxic "sells fantasy dressed as seriousness" and is designed to "impress" with a protagonist who remains impervious to harm, with the narrative bending to preserve his "ultra cool factor." The directorial styles are also contrasted, with Dhurandhar employing observational camerawork and editing that respects narrative flow, while Toxic is characterized by dramatic slow-motion and manufactured intensity.

The clash, according to Varma, will answer critical questions about audience preferences: whether they still favor the "dark hero walking in slow motion" or if smoking equals depth. He anticipates this event could challenge the hero-worship culture promoted by recent blockbuster films from the south. Varma concluded that '#Dhuroxic' might signify a shift in cinema, where audiences reject "bulletproof masculinity" in favor of relatable humans, or vice versa, with the ultimate judgment resting with the audience on March 19, 2026.