‘Dhurandhar’ vs. ‘Toxic’: Varma Highlights Cinema Culture Divide

‘Dhurandhar’ vs. ‘Toxic’: Varma Highlights Cinema Culture Divide.webp

New Delhi, February 22 Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma shared a lengthy note on social media as he addressed the upcoming release of "Dhurandhar 2" and "Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups" on March 19, saying it is a "brutal clash between two cultures of cinema".

Directed by Aditya Dhar, "Dhurandhar 2" is a sequel to the previous film, starring Ranveer Singh. Released in December 2025, it went on to earn over Rs 1000 crore at the box office. "Toxic" features Yash in the lead role of a ruthless gangster and is directed by Geetu Mohandas.

Varma posted on his X handle on Sunday, sharing his thoughts on the clash. "THE #Dhuroxic PARK NO, I am not talking about TWO BIG FILMS #Dhurandhar2 and #Toxic releasing on March 19th. I am actually talking about a NEVER BEFORE SEEN or EXPERIENCED mythical archetype EXPLODING in the GRAND ARENA of INDIAN CINEMAS. It is a BATTLE between DAVID AND GOLIATH," he wrote.

"I strongly believe that #Dhuroxic is not about North against South, not Bollywood against Sandalwood. It is actually a brutal clash between two CULTURES , not of regions, but of cinema. The principal difference between the two is that #Dhurandhar respects the audience’s intelligence and #Toxic presumes their dumbness...#Dhurandhar a reported 130 cr DAVID film (both versions together cost some 260 cr) hit some 1500 cr, proving that the so called MASSES are actually far more INTELLIGENT than what the MASALA MERCHANTS ever imagined."

Varma, who has previously praised Dhar's "Dhurandhar", said he is waiting to know which film will have better box office results. "DISCLAIMER: NO, it is not my love for @AdityaDharFilms which made me write this, but it is my HOPE for INDIAN CINEMA. I am waiting with bated breath for MARCH 19th to know if INDIA is 'DHURANDHAR' or 'TOXIC'," he wrote.

Also featuring Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt and Sara Arjun, R Madhavan and Arjun Rampal, among others, "Dhurandhar" revolved around covert intelligence operations set against a backdrop of geopolitical and terror events like the Kandahar plane hijacking, the 2001 Parliament Attack, and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

"Toxic" also stars Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, and Tara Sutaria in key roles.
 
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aditya dhar akshaye khanna bollywood box office dhurandhar 2 film release geetu mohandas indian cinema kiara advani nayanthara ram gopal varma ranveer singh sanjay dutt sara arjun toxic: a fairy tale for grown-ups yash
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