Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar movie arrives on OTT, sparking debate about missing scenes and changes
Ranveer Singh’s massive action hit Dhurandhar finally landed on Netflix on January 30, 2026, after dominating at the box office. But the release has sparked debate among fans because the movie feels different, and it’s actually shorter than what played in theaters.
The Numbers Don’t Match Up
The original theatrical version (released December 5, 2025) ran for 3 hours and 34 minutes—the full, uncut version.
The revised theatrical version (from January 1, 2026 onward) was slightly trimmed to 3 hours and 29 minutes after the censor board asked for some changes. Two words were muted, and one dialogue about the Baloch community was removed.
The Netflix version (now streaming) is just 3 hours and 25 minutes long—even shorter than the revised theatrical cut.
What Got Cut and Why?
The Censor Board Changes
The movie faces some issues with CBFC(India’s censor board). The makers have been asked to mute some abusive words and alter a controversial dialogue uttered by Sanjay Dutt’s character.
The original dialogue was:
“Police ke dinon mein mera ek Baloch partner tha… magarmachh par bharosa kar sakte hain, par ek Baloch pe nahin”
(I had a Baloch partner during my police days… you can trust a crocodile, but never a Baloch).
In the altered version, the audio is muted, and the subtitle changes to:
“I’d trust a crocodile, but never someone like them.”
The Technical Speed Difference
Netflix streams movies at 25 frames per second, while normal movie theaters display them at 24 frames per second. This tiny difference makes the Netflix copy 4% quicker, contributing about 9 minutes to the time difference.
Did Netflix Cut More Scenes?
The controversy heats up when some reports claimed Netflix cut an additional 9 minutes from the film without even telling director Aditya Dhar. But other sources say that’s not true—the producers themselves submitted a version that meets Netflix’s content guidelines. The platform didn’t make unauthorized cuts.
The only real difference? Netflix doesn’t need to show those anti-smoking warning messages that pop up in theaters, which saves a few more minutes.
What Fans Are Saying
Social media is flooded with angry fans debating over:
• Muted dialogues and removed offensive words
• The movie feeling rushed and faster-paced
• Colors looking different (worse color grading, they say)
• Sound quality not matching the theater experience
Many fans feel cheated, especially those who were excited to rewatch the film at home. “This isn’t the same movie I paid to see in IMAX,” wrote one disappointed viewer.
The Movie’s Massive Success
Despite all this drama, the film has been an absolute hit. It made over Rs 800 crore in India alone and crossed Rs 1,300 crore worldwide, making it one of the biggest Bollywood blockbusters ever.
Critics and audiences loved Ranveer Singh’s intense performance and praised Akshaye Khanna’s villainous turn. Director Aditya Dhar has also been praised for delivering another crowd-pleaser packed with action and patriotic themes.
Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is already scheduled to release on March 19, 2026, around Eid. The sequel will come out in five languages: Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, showing just how popular the first film became across India.
The Bigger Picture
This whole situation highlights important questions about what happens to films when they shift from theaters to streaming platforms. Should directors have the final say over OTT versions? Do streaming services have the right to ask for edits that theaters didn’t require? And should fans expect the exact same experience at home that they got in cinemas?
