New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) With less than a month to go until March 19, anticipation is building for the major box office clash between Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge (Dhurandhar 2)’ and Yash’s ‘Toxic’.
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, who has repeatedly expressed admiration for director Aditya Dhar’s work, weighed in on the upcoming showdown, and once again appeared to take a clear stance.
In a lengthy post on X, Varma shared his perspective on the high-profile face-off, arguing that the clash is less about regional rivalry and more about contrasting cinematic philosophies. While acknowledging that both films command strong fan bases, he suggested that the core difference lies in how they view audiences.
Varma 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. K.G.F: Chapter 2 was a Local film that aimed at the Dumbness in the Masses, and ‘Dhurandhar’ aimed at the Intelligence in the Masses.”
He went on to argue that appealing to intelligence, rather than spectacle alone, is what fuels global success. “That is exactly why it became Global. ‘Dhurandhar,’ a reported Rs 130-crore David film (both versions together costing some Rs 260 crore), hit around Rs 1,500 crore, proving that the so-called Masses are actually far more Intelligent than what the Masala Merchants ever imagined. It is Important to note that AdityaDharFilms never once presumed the audience was dumb, but after the film released, the Masses answered in a thundering, earth-shaking voice: ‘Yes, We Are Actually That Intelligent… Thank You For Noticing.’ So on March 19, when the lights in theatres go down across the world, two Davids and two Goliaths will be fighting a Battle, the fight will be between these 10 Savage, brutal truths.”
Varma further outlined what he described as ten fundamental contrasts between the two films, including mindless hero worship versus audiences discovering heroes organically, gravity-defying action versus grounded realism, and elevating a single star to god-like status versus giving the entire cast meaningful space.
He also added to his post by clarifying that his comments stem from his broader hopes for the industry. “No, it is not my love for AdityaDharFilms that made me write this, but my hope for Indian Cinema. I am waiting with bated breath for March 19 to know if India is ‘Dhurandhar’ or ‘Toxic’.”
As the release date approaches, the debate surrounding the two big-budget films continues to intensify, setting the stage for one of the year’s most closely watched box office battles.
