Imtiaz Ali Praises Dhurandhar 2 For Bringing Audiences To Theatres, Reveals He Hasn’t Yet Watched It

Imtiaz Ali spoke about the box office success of Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar 2 and also shared fresh details about upcoming film Main Vaapas Aaunga at the International Film Festival of Delhi 2026, stressing how strong theatrical releases can help bring audiences back to cinema halls.

The filmmaker praised Dhurandhar 2 for driving large crowds to multiplexes and single screens, even though Imtiaz Ali has not yet watched the film. At the same event, Imtiaz Ali discussed working again with Diljit Dosanjh and reflected on why this new collaboration feels special for Imtiaz Ali.

Imtiaz Ali Dhurandhar 2 appreciation and theatrical response

Speaking to the media at IFFD 2026, Imtiaz Ali emphasised that commercial hits like Dhurandhar 2 are helpful for the entire film industry, as they renew public interest in theatrical viewing and encourage people to choose big screens over home viewing, especially after recent shifts in audience habits.

Imtiaz Ali openly admitted that the film remains on Imtiaz Ali's watchlist. Imtiaz Ali said, "I have not seen Dhurandhar yet but I know that there are many beautiful things in it. People liked it a lot. I would like to thank them for bringing audience to theatres and I hope it cotinues. I would like to congratulate the Dhurandhar team."

Imtiaz Ali Dhurandhar 2 box office numbers and star cast

Dhurandhar 2, directed by Aditya Dhar, released in cinemas on March 19 and has collected more than Rs 800 crore worldwide. The ensemble cast includes Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi and Sanjay Dutt in key roles, which has helped draw diverse viewers across regions and age groups.

Key details about Dhurandhar 2 can be seen in the table below, highlighting the principal names associated with the production along with the milestone box office figure reached by the film since its release date in March 2026.

Film	Director	Main Cast	Release Date	Box Office Collection
Dhurandhar 2	Aditya Dhar	Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi, Sanjay Dutt	March 19, 2026	Over Rs 800 crore

Imtiaz Ali Dhurandhar 2 link to Main Vaapas Aaunga collaboration

While appreciating Dhurandhar 2, Imtiaz Ali also turned attention towards Imtiaz Ali's next film, Main Vaapas Aaunga. The project marks the second straight collaboration between Imtiaz Ali and Diljit Dosanjh after Amar Singh Chamkila in 2024, underlining the creative trust that has developed between the duo.

Describing this repeated association, Imtiaz Ali told reporters at IFFD 2026, "Working with an artist like Diljit is always very inspiring and this is the first time that I am working with an actor twice, one after the other in a film. This is my good fortune. Both these films, 'Amar Singh Chamkeela' and 'Main Vaapas Aaunga', are on a particular topic and in both of them Diljit Dosanjh has worked from his heart."

Imtiaz Ali Dhurandhar 2 context and Main Vaapas Aaunga story details

Main Vaapas Aaunga features Diljit Dosanjh alongside Vedang Raina, Sharvari and Naseeruddin Shah in central roles. The one-minute and thirteen-second teaser begins with Diljit Dosanjh's voice-over, which introduces the emotional journey of Naseeruddin Shah's character, seen lying on a hospital bed during a reflective moment.

Within the narrative, Vedang Raina plays the younger version of Naseeruddin Shah, while Sharvari appears as the character's lover. As suggested in the teaser, the makers describe the film as a tale of "love and longing" tied to the separation caused by the partition between India and Pakistan in 1947, shaping the characters' fates.

Imtiaz Ali Dhurandhar 2 backdrop and Main Vaapas Aaunga music, team and release

The film's music is composed by AR Rahman, with lyrics written by Irshad Kamil, continuing Imtiaz Ali's long-running partnerships with both artists. Production duties are handled by Sameer Nair, Deepak Segal, Mohit Choudhary and Shibhasish Sarkar for Window Seat Film, with presentation by Applause Entertainment on the theatrical circuit.

Main Vaapas Aaunga is scheduled to arrive in theatres on June 12, adding another major Hindi release to the 2026 calendar. Imtiaz Ali's remarks on Dhurandhar 2 and the new film together reflect confidence in theatrical cinema and highlight how star-led, music-driven stories still appeal strongly to Indian audiences.