Nimrat Kaur believes Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar has changed what audiences expect from Hindi spy thrillers, particularly when it comes to authenticity and the way familiar stories are presented.
Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar has continued to generate discussion within the Hindi film industry, with its treatment of the spy-thriller genre drawing attention from actors and filmmakers. Now, actor Nimrat Kaur has shared her view on the film’s impact, suggesting that its approach has effectively raised the standard for movies attempting to tell similar stories.
According to Nimrat, audiences have now experienced what a more authentic spy thriller can look and feel like. That, she believes, could make viewers more demanding when they encounter future films in the genre.
Nimrat Kaur on the new expectations after ‘Dhurandhar’
Speaking about the response to Dhurandhar, Nimrat highlighted the importance of delivering a familiar genre in a way that feels fresh and convincing.
“When something is done so well that people have tasted of how authentic something like that can seem. So obviously now everything when the bar is raised, which I do believe every once in a while a film comes our way where you’re like, oh, this is the same story, but told in a way which we’ve been waiting for,” she said.
Nimrat further explained that once a film sets a particularly high benchmark, audiences may expect subsequent movies to meet or exceed it.
“Everything better be at par or better than that or else, you know, let’s not attempt it. You know, that is going to be the general perception,” the actor added.
Her comments point to a broader shift in audience expectations. Spy films have long been a popular part of Hindi cinema, but viewers are increasingly exposed to international productions and more grounded approaches to espionage stories. As a result, elements such as believable characters, detailed world-building and a convincing sense of place can become just as important as action and spectacle.
‘Dhurandhar’ stands out beyond being ‘just another spy film’
For Nimrat, the distinction lies in how completely a filmmaker executes the world of a story. She suggested that when a film reaches the full potential of its material, it can move beyond the conventions associated with its genre.
“When a story is told to its I think maximum potential, in the most authentic way possible, to the world that you’re trying to project and show, it no longer becomes, oh, ‘just another spy film’. Then it’s like, oh, wow, Dhurandhar,” Nimrat said.
That observation is significant because Dhurandhar has been discussed not only as an action-driven spy film but also for the atmosphere and grounded treatment associated with its fictionalised world.
Rather than relying solely on the familiar ingredients of the genre, the film’s appeal, as described by Nimrat, comes from making audiences feel that they are watching a story that has been given a distinctive identity.
Why authenticity matters in the spy-thriller genre
The spy genre naturally comes with certain expectations: covert operations, intelligence networks, action sequences, political stakes and larger-than-life protagonists. However, authenticity can determine whether those elements feel convincing or merely formulaic.
Nimrat’s comments suggest that Dhurandhar has contributed to a higher bar for this kind of storytelling. If audiences have already responded positively to a particular level of realism and detail, filmmakers may find it harder to rely on familiar templates without adding something substantially different.
For Hindi cinema, that could encourage greater attention to research, character development and the internal logic of spy narratives rather than treating action as the primary selling point.
Ranveer Singh-led franchise continues to make an impact
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar features Ranveer Singh in the lead, alongside an ensemble cast that includes R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt and Rakesh Bedi.
The franchise was followed by Dhurandhar: The Revenge, with both films becoming major talking points around their respective theatrical releases.
The reported commercial performance has further added to the franchise’s visibility. Reports have claimed that the two films together crossed the Rs 3,000 crore mark in worldwide collections.
Beyond the box-office numbers, however, Nimrat’s comments highlight another measure of a successful franchise: whether it changes the conversation around its genre.
If Dhurandhar has indeed made audiences more conscious of authenticity in spy thrillers, its influence could extend beyond its own box-office run. Future Hindi films entering the genre may increasingly be judged against the standard that audiences believe the franchise has established.
For Nimrat Kaur, the central point is simple: when a familiar story is executed at its highest potential, it stops feeling like a routine genre exercise and becomes a benchmark in itself.
