Mumbai, April 7 – Director Sanjay Gupta is baffled by the fact that ‘Dhurandhar’ did not win the Best Film award at a recent awards ceremony.
On Tuesday, the director posted on his X (formerly Twitter), expressing his disbelief. He explained that a film which won 14 awards could not win the Best Film trophy is beyond his understanding.
He wrote, “A film winning FOURTEEN awards, including Best Director, not winning Best Film is beyond me.”
‘Dhurandhar’, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, has emerged as one of the biggest box-office successes in recent Indian cinema. The response has been overwhelmingly positive across markets. The film has achieved high occupancy rates, multiple sold-out shows, and strong traction in dubbed versions, indicating its pan-India appeal.
Culturally, the ‘Dhurandhar’ franchise has become a mass phenomenon. Its blend of hyper-stylized action, nationalism, and star power has resonated strongly with audiences, reflecting current cinematic trends. Viral moments, music, and even off-screen incidents have amplified its reach, turning it into more than just a film; it has become a conversation driver. However, the film has also upset a section of the audience, with many claiming that it promotes pro-establishment propaganda.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Gupta, who is known for unofficially remaking South Korean films in Hindi, is very vocal about his opinions. Earlier, he expressed his disappointment with the first look of Lord Ram from the upcoming Indian epic ‘Ramayana’.
A few days ago, the director posted on his X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Obvious observation. VFX companies don't win Oscars. The technicians do (sic)”.
The director referred to the VFX giant DNEG, which won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects for ‘Dune: Part Two’ at the 97th Academy Awards. DNEG is handling the VFX for ‘Ramayana’, and has done a good job so far, considering the assets from the film.