BY Christa Lincy
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Dhurandhar: Ishq Jalakar releases early on massive public demand;Here's everything to know about Ranveer Singh's spy thriller
In a move that highlights the immense buzz surrounding Aditya Dhar’s upcoming espionage thriller, the makers of Dhurandhar have released the soulful track ‘Ishq Jalakar – Karvaan’ ahead of schedule. Originally slated for a later launch, the song was fast-tracked after a snippet in the trailer went viral, leading to massive public demand on social media.
Released ahead of schedule due to overwhelming public demand, the track ‘Ishq Jalakar – Karvaan’ is a stirring modern recreation of the legendary 1960 Qawwali classic "Na To Karvan Ki Talash Hai" from the film Barsaat Ki Raat. The song features the powerful vocals of Shashwat Sachdev, Shahzad Ali, Subhadeep Das Chowdhury, and Armaan Khan, with Sachdev also serving as the composer who reimagined Roshan’s original masterpiece. Lyrically, the track bridges eras by blending the timeless verses of Sahir Ludhianvi with fresh lines penned by Irshad Kamil. Serving as a crucial narrative element, the song underscores the gritty and emotional journey of the protagonist, played by Ranveer Singh; its haunting melody in the trailer sparked such a viral frenzy that producers Saregama and Jio Studios were compelled to release the full music video on November 25, 2025.
The film boasts a massive ensemble cast, bringing together some of the finest actors in Indian cinema to portray characters deeply rooted in real-world history. Ranveer Singh leads the pack as the protagonist, a RAW agent reportedly inspired by the real-life operative Major Mohit Sharma. He is supported by a powerful lineup including R. Madhavan as Ajay Sanyal, a character based on National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Sanjay Dutt, who takes on the role of SP Chaudhary Aslam, modeled after the tough Pakistani cop Chaudhary Aslam Khan. The gritty narrative also features Akshaye Khanna as Rehman Dakait, based on the infamous Lyari gang war figure, while Arjun Rampal steps in as the formidable antagonist Major Iqbal, a character drawn from terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri. Rounding out this stellar group is Sara Arjun, who plays a pivotal role reported to be the female lead.
Ranveer Singh’s last major appearance as a lead protagonist was in the 2023 critical and commercial blockbuster ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’. Directed by Karan Johar, the film showcased Singh’s versatility as the flamboyant yet endearing Rocky Randhawa, a role that stands in stark contrast to the gritty, intense spy he portrays in Dhurandhar. The romantic drama was a global success, grossing approximately ₹357.5 crore at the worldwide box office. While Singh recently reprised his popular character Simmba for the ensemble actioner Singham Again (2024), Dhurandhar is widely viewed as his massive return to a dedicated titular role, carrying the weight of high audience expectations following his previous solo blockbuster.
The promotional campaign kicked off with the trailer receiving a "UA 16+" certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in August 2025, clocking in at 2 minutes and 42 seconds. While the final certificate for the theatrical release is still in process, the trailer's rating strongly indicates that the film will feature intense action sequences and violence suitable for mature audiences. Given the production's grand scale, trade sources suggest the movie may have a runtime exceeding three hours, fueling strong industry speculation that Dhurandhar might be released in two parts. If these reports hold true, the first installment is set to arrive on December 5, 2025, with the second likely following in 2026, though the makers have seemingly kept the official "Part 2" announcement as a strategic surprise.
The wait is finally over. Listen to the modern recreation of the timeless classic that has everyone talking. Check out the song here:
Dhurandhar marks the highly anticipated return of director Aditya Dhar, his first major project since the massive success of his debut, Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), which earned him the National Film Award for Best Director. For this second directorial venture, Dhar has forged a fresh creative partnership, collaborating with Ranveer Singh for the first time. Moving away from the cast of Uri, he has assembled a completely new ensemble to inhabit this gritty spy universe. However, the film retains Dhar’s signature storytelling ethos; much like Uri, Dhurandhar is reportedly grounded in reality, drawing inspiration from actual Indian intelligence operations and focusing specifically on the "Unknown Men"—covert assets credited with neutralizing threats on foreign soil.
Set against the volatile backdrop of a covert Indian intelligence mission deep inside Pakistan, the narrative promises a gritty, realistic, and violent portrayal of espionage. Moving away from the "larger-than-life" spectacle typical of franchises like the YRF Spy Universe, the film adopts a grounded, procedural approach reminiscent of Zero Dark Thirty. The production itself matched this ambitious scale, with filming spanning over a year across various international schedules. The shoot was not without its hurdles; the team faced significant challenges, including a widely reported incident where several crew members fell ill during a grueling high-altitude schedule in Leh, Ladakh, yet the unit persevered to complete the film on time.
As the countdown to the December 5 release begins, Dhurandhar stands poised to potentially redefine the landscape of Indian espionage films. With the haunting melody of Ishq Jalakar – Karvaan setting a somber yet intense tone, and a screenplay rooted in the unsung sacrifices of intelligence officers, the stakes are exceptionally high. The makers have bet big on this sprawling narrative, effectively splitting the saga into two distinct chapters to do justice to its scale—with the first part arriving this December and the concluding installment targeted for a Summer 2026 release. If the collaboration between Aditya Dhar’s gritty vision and Ranveer Singh’s intense performance translates effectively to the screen, audiences are in for a massive cinematic event that honors the shadows of history while delivering high-octane entertainment across both volumes.
Bollywood
