While Dhurandhar continues its unstoppable run at the box office, the film has also remained in the news for reasons both celebratory and controversial. Even as audiences and critics praise its scale and performances, a section has labelled it a “well-made propaganda film.” Amid this chatter, a fresh headline emerged after an interview of choreographer Vijay Ganguly went viral.
Vijay, who choreographed Dhurandhar’s song Shararat, recently told Filmygyan that he had initially envisioned Tamannaah Bhatia for the number.
He said, “In my head, she was the one. I had suggested her, but Aditya was very clear that he did not want what people call an item song—something that went out of the story. If it were just about one girl, it would have taken attention away from the story.”
Explaining the creative choice further, he added, “That’s why there are two girls, not one. He didn’t want the attention to be about this one person. If it were Tamannaah, it would’ve been about her and not the story. Jo ho raha tha film mein, there was a lot going on, and if you go away from the story, then the song is just a cut-to song.”
Soon after the interview gained traction, several headlines began doing the rounds online, suggesting that director Aditya Dhar had “rejected” Tamannaah Bhatia. In response, Vijay Ganguly took to his Instagram handle to set the record straight.
He wrote, “To clarify: Tamannaah Bhatia was never under consideration because her star power is so significant it might have overwhelmed the specific needs of this scene. In Dhurandhar, the music is woven into a high-stakes moment where the tension is key. The makers opted for two performers to keep the focus on the story’s progression. This choice was about protecting the film’s atmosphere and ensuring the narrative remains the hero of the sequence.”
Addressing the way his words were interpreted, he added, “I genuinely enjoy conversations around cinema and the many layers that go into making a film. That said, I have often refrained from putting myself out there because, at times, words get selectively lifted, misquoted or sensationalised to serve headlines rather than the craft.”
Vijay also expressed disappointment over the direction the discussion had taken, saying, “It’s unfortunate that instead of the conversation staying on the song and the creative intent behind Shararat, the focus has shifted to comparisons between two wonderful artists, with strong and reductive terms like ‘rejections’ being used—something that was never the spirit of what was shared.”
He concluded with a reminder of the collaborative nature of filmmaking: “Cinema is collaborative. It thrives on respect, nuance and context. I hope we can keep the spotlight where it belongs—on the work and the many people who pour their hearts into it.”
The song “Shararat” features actors Ayesha Khan and Krystle D’Souza.
Meanwhile, Dhurandhar continues to dominate the box office. The film has crossed the Rs 800 crore mark in just 17 days. On its 18th day, it earned Rs 10.32 crore in India as of 8 pm. It is now poised to surpass Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: The Legend to become the highest-grossing Indian film of the year.
According to Sacnilk, Dhurandhar has already emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 worldwide, with a total collection of Rs 852 crore in 18 days, overtaking Kantara: The Legend.
The second part of Aditya Dhar’s directorial is scheduled to release on March 19, 2026.
Curated by Shiv Shakti Mishra
