Actor Saif Ali Khan believes the 'Dhurandhar' film franchise has fundamentally shifted the landscape of Indian cinema, particularly in its approach to music. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter India, Khan reflected on the films' profound influence, stating they have reshaped his perspective on scripts and filmmaking.
A New Era for Cinematic Music
According to Khan, the 'Dhurandhar' films introduced a revolutionary method for incorporating songs into storytelling. Instead of treating music as standalone promotional tracks, the franchise wove songs directly into the narrative, making them feel organic and deeply connected to the plot. "I see a time before Dhurandhar and a time after. It’s up to us whether we catch up or not and wake up or not," Khan remarked, emphasizing the need for the industry to embrace this change.
The musical scores for the 'Dhurandhar' films were composed by Shashwat Sachdev. The soundtracks featured a blend of original compositions like "Shararat" and "Gehra Hua," alongside reimagined versions of classic songs such as "Ishq Jalakar," "Lutt Le Gaya," and "Run Down the City – Monica." Both albums garnered immense popularity, topping streaming charts upon their release, a success replicated by 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge'.
The Impact of 'Shararat'
Khan specifically highlighted the dance number "Shararat," featuring Ayesha Khan and Krystle D'Souza, as a groundbreaking example. The song appears during a wedding celebration for Ranveer Singh's character, Hamza, with the dancers performing while the film's main story unfolds concurrently. Khan praised this integration, noting, "Imagine if that was to change the way of hiring a beautiful leading lady to do an ‘item’ for you. If you just treat it as a song and have these two girls performing as you would in a wedding, it doesn’t jar the eyes at all." This approach, he suggested, could redefine the concept of 'item numbers' in Indian cinema.
Box Office Triumph and Future Endeavors
Beyond its musical innovation, the 'Dhurandhar' franchise has also achieved remarkable commercial success. The first film, released in December 2025, and its sequel, 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge,' released in March 2026, collectively grossed over ₹3,100 crore at the box office. The sequel notably became the second-highest-grossing Indian film of all time. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the films starred Ranveer Singh in the lead role, alongside acclaimed actors such as Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun.
Saif Ali Khan was last seen in the Netflix crime thriller 'Kartavya,' where his performance received critical acclaim. He is currently preparing for the period drama 'Hum Hindustani' and Priyadarshan's 'Haiwaan,' which will see him reunite with Akshay Kumar after nearly two decades.