Dhurandhar 2 has been watched & here is my honest take on ‘The Movie’😇
Three main conclusions:
1- Aditya Dhar is a very skilled filmmaker
2- Aditya Dhar is a massive Bhakt
3- No, this is not the greatest Hindi movie ever made
Read on as I explain the 3 main takeaways:
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I have a favourite Aamir Khan story that should have absolutely been the crown jewel of my Bollywood book, if I ever get around to writing one. And given that I spent 12 years in the trenches as a Hindi film journalist and critic for The Telegraph, believe me, I have quite a few stories.
But this one. This one is different.
Dhobi Ghat had just released. I reviewed it for t2, the entertainment supplement of The Telegraph. I wrote that while Monica Dogra, Prateik Babbar, and Kriti Malhotra slipped into their characters like second skin — effortlessly, organically, exactly what Kiran Rao's debut needed — Aamir Khan stuck out like a sore thumb. He hadn't found the sur of the film. He was, in my honest critical opinion, miscast.
The review ran on Saturday.
Monday evening. Late. My phone buzzes with a text from an unknown number.
"Hi Pratim, when can I call? Aamir."
I went cold. I knew what film people do when you don't align with them creatively. They get vengeful. They get vindictive. They have long memories and longer grudges. And this wasn't just any film person. This was Aamir Khan. The perfectionist. The man who doesn't do anything without a reason.
With slightly unsteady fingers, I typed back: "Hi Aamir, we can speak now."
He called immediately.
In that inimitable style of his — measured, unhurried, punctuated with those trademark pauses that make you hang on every single word — he said he had read my review.
I braced myself.
He said he completely agreed with me.
I'm sorry — what?
Aamir Khan had called me, a film critic, to say I was right about his performance being off. I couldn't process it. Here was one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema, a man with nothing to prove to anyone, voluntarily picking up the phone to validate a critic's assessment of his own shortcomings. The silence on my end must have been deafening.
And then he said it. The line I will never forget: "I was the worst of the four."
He ended the call with four words that have stayed with me ever since: "Keep writing what you feel."
Years later, when I heard that he had auditioned for Kiran Rao's second film — Lapataa Ladies, which he was producing — and that she had ultimately gone with Ravi Kishen for the role instead, something clicked into place quietly inside me.
No ego. No entitlement. Just a man who understood his own limitations well enough to let go.
Nothing had changed. He was still that guy.
30+ artists including me were summoned by authorities for being on Latent.
The whole comedy fraternity took a hit because of how stupid you’re. Shows were canceled, Venues pulled out, Judgements made, the pathetic shadow of your stupidity still continues to make lives of funny comedians difficult. You didn’t even care to understand that side.
Stop pretending to be the nice guy you’re not. Take your cheque’s,
lower your gaze & be very ashamed.
You’re a contraceptive for creativity,
stop milking this & go back to what you do best which is being a hurdle for upward social change while FraudCasting & clout chasing…
Part 1 is very clearly building up to a second half that will defend things like demonetisation and the rise of/need for strong man fascist leadership.
Please use your critical thinking when watching Dhurandhar.
"Bavra Mann" is more than a song - it’s a feeling. Seeing Swanand Kirkire perform his masterpiece while Varun Grover captures the moment on his phone is pure creative gold.
It’s rare to see these two icons in such a candid frame, sharing the stage and the rhythm. A true "fan" moment between two legends of our time.
Watch the full session now - https://t.co/nvSdAXQks6
#JashneRekhta #SwanandKirkire #BavraMann #VarunGrover #RekhtaPlus
@amazonIN The worst service ever. I have ordered 2 items one got delivered other got delayed. I requested cancellation for the delayed item and now i am left with no refund. Not acceptable
Inspiring!♥️
He delivered more than just my lunch. He delivered a lesson for life.
Yesterday, I ordered a simple lunch from Subway - a paneer tikka sandwich, Bingo chips, and oat raisin cookies.
When the order arrived, I could tell just by looking at the packet - only the sandwich had made it.
I told the delivery rider, “The chips and cookies are missing.”
He stuttered and struggled to respond but humbly said, “Sir, please call the restaurant or Zomato.”
I called Subway. They apologized and confirmed the miss.
They asked, “Can you send the rider back? We’ll pay him ₹20 for the trouble.”
But here’s the twist, technically, the rider isn’t supposed to go back unless Zomato tells him to.
Because Zomato pays him, not the restaurant.
But this man, this absolute gem, said: “Sir, it’s my responsibility. I want the customer to be happy.”
He didn’t see me as his customer.
But he saw the value in doing what was right.
He went back, picked up the missing items, came back smiling and refused the ₹20 from Subway.
He said, “God has given me so much. Why should I take this money for a mistake someone else made?”
Then, he shared his story and it gave me goosebumps.
He was once a construction supervisor, growing into a managerial role at Shapoorji Pallonji, earning ₹1.25 lakhs/month.
But a car accident changed everything.
His left side is paralyzed, hand and leg. He lost his job, his mobility, and for a while, his hope.
But Zomato changed that.
They gave him a job. A chance. A purpose.
He said: “Sir, Zomato kept my family alive. I may be handicapped, but I’ve been given an opportunity. I will never let Zomato’s name be affected.”
His daughter is now studying dentistry.
He rides not just for income, but to keep her dream alive.
He didn’t blame life.
He didn’t complain.
He didn’t give excuses.
Instead, he smiled, believed in Swami Samarth (his faith), and said: “God is with me. Why should I worry?”
To Deepinder Goyal and the Zomato team - thank you!
You might not realize it, but your decision to hire persons with disabilities is changing lives in the most profound way.
Today I received a sandwich.
But what stayed with me… was gratitude, resilience, and hope.
Stories like his deserve to be seen and celebrated.
Posted by shripal gandhi.
#business #zomato #subway #gratitudepost
#DeepinderGoyal
Oh, what a glowing career trajectory for Paresh Rawal !
From respected actor to full-time Twitter troll, all just to cozy up to power.
And if you think you're insulting me, you've failed. The job of a maid commands more respect than a Twitter troll hunting for attention