New Delhi, April 5 Filmmaker Aditya Dhar praised the efforts of cinematographer Vikash Nowlakha in his latest directorial work, "Dhurandhar: The Revenge," and said that every frame in the film is alive because of him.
Dhar's "Dhurandhar: The Revenge," released on March 19, has already crossed the Rs 1500 crore mark at the global box office. It is a sequel to his 2025 directorial work, "Dhurandhar."
The filmmaker shared a series of pictures alongside Nowlakha on his Instagram handle on Sunday and said that the cinematographer was among the last to join the film.
"This is for Vikash Nowlakha, the eye, the instinct, and the soul behind 'Dhurandhar'. He was the last Head of Department to join 'Dhurandhar'. Just a few days before we started. And knowing how discerning he is, that timing was crucial. It felt less like onboarding a cinematographer and more like destiny stepping in at the right moment," he wrote.
"I still remember what he said after reading the script, 'I've waited 30 years to do a film like this. I'll dedicate my life to it.' And he meant every word.
What followed was not just work, it was devotion. Despite impossible schedules, despite the chaos that often felt overwhelming, despite shooting what was essentially two films in the time and budget of one, Vikash remained at the center of it all, steady and relentless," he added.
The film featured Ranveer Singh in the lead role, alongside R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi.
"Carrying the weight of the film quite literally on his shoulders, pushing through the burning heat of Amritsar and the harsh cold of Leh, he never once compromised the vision. But what makes Vikash truly special is not just his endurance, it's the soul in his gaze. His attention to detail, his emotional intelligence behind the camera, his ability to understand not just what a scene looks like, but what it feels like, that is where his genius lies. Every frame in 'Dhurandhar' breathes because he allowed it," Dhar said.
"He didn't just capture moments, he gave them life. His input on set was never loud, but always precise. Always truthful. Always elevating the film. There are many who shoot films. Vikash lived this one. And in doing so, he has given 'Dhurandhar' something that cannot be manufactured, a soul. I feel immense gratitude, respect, and affection for the artist he is, and the human being he brought into this journey.
This film carries his imprint forever. And I know this is only the beginning, the stories we will tell together from here on will go even further, shine even brighter, and create something truly timeless," he said.
Set in the Lyari town of Karachi, an area known for its history of gang wars and violent turf battles, "Dhurandhar" revolved around covert intelligence operations against the backdrop of geopolitical and terror events such as the Kandahar plane hijacking, the 2001 Parliament Attack, and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The sequel charts the rise of Ranveer Singh's character, Hamza Ali Mazari, in the Karachi underworld while also delving into his origins as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, tracing the journey of the young man who eventually transforms into the covert operative.
Produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Lokesh Dhar, the film was released in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam languages.
