After a historic run at the box office, Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna’s spy thriller Dhurandhar is now gearing up for its much-anticipated digital premiere. Fans who missed the film in theatres—or are eager to revisit the action-packed spectacle—may not have to wait much longer.

Directed by Uri: The Surgical Strike filmmaker Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar created box office history by becoming the first Hindi film to register double-digit daily collections for 28 consecutive days in India.

Dhurandhar OTT release update

According to a report by industry tracker Sacnilk, Dhurandhar is expected to begin streaming on Netflix from January 30, 2026. While the streaming platform is yet to make an official announcement, trade sources suggest that the digital premiere is imminent.

The report further claims that Netflix has secured the streaming rights for both Dhurandhar and its upcoming sequel, Dhurandhar 2, in a combined deal reportedly worth ₹130 crore. If confirmed, the deal would mark a career-high digital acquisition for Ranveer Singh.

Star-studded cast and strong theatrical hold

Dhurandhar features an ensemble cast that includes Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi, Danish Pandor, and Sara Arjun in pivotal roles.

Despite being in theatres for over 48 days, the film continues to draw audiences, a rare feat for a non-festival release. Its sustained performance highlights strong word-of-mouth and repeat viewership.

Dhurandhar box office performance

As per Sacnilk’s estimates:

• India net collection: ₹829.40 crore
• Day 48 collection: ₹1.15 crore
• Worldwide gross: ₹1,287.5 crore
• Overseas collection: ₹293.9 crore

The film currently ranks among the highest-grossing Hindi films of all time, cementing its blockbuster status.

What to expect from Dhurandhar 2

For those unfamiliar, Dhurandhar was conceptualised as a two-part spy franchise. The first instalment released on December 5, 2025, while the sequel—titled Dhurandhar: The Revenge—is scheduled to hit theatres on March 19, 2026, coinciding with Eid, Gudi Padwa, and Ugadi.

The second part is expected to delve deeper into the backstory of Ranveer Singh’s character, Hamza Ali Mazari / Jaskirat Singh Rangi, expanding the universe and raising the stakes.

Why the OTT release matters

With its theatrical run still going strong, Dhurandhar’s digital release is expected to significantly boost viewership across global markets. The Netflix debut will also introduce the franchise to a wider international audience ahead of the sequel’s release.

Tamil cinema’s “people’s star” Vijay Sethupathi has carved a unique space for himself by consistently choosing unconventional roles and story-driven films. Whether portraying a ruthless gangster, a vulnerable romantic, or a deeply layered character challenging social norms, Sethupathi’s performances have resonated strongly with audiences and critics alike.

As the actor turns 48, it’s a fitting moment to revisit some of his highest-rated films on IMDb—projects that not only showcase his versatility but also underline his reputation as one of Indian cinema’s most dependable performers.

⭐ Vijay Sethupathi’s highest-rated films on IMDb

1. 96 (IMDb: 8.6)

One of the most beloved romantic dramas in Tamil cinema, 96 features Vijay Sethupathi as Ram, a quiet travel photographer haunted by memories of his school-time love, played by Trisha Krishnan. The film’s gentle storytelling, minimal dialogue, and emotional restraint struck a chord with viewers across age groups. Sethupathi’s subtle performance is often cited as one of the finest of his career.

Streaming on: Aha, MX Player

2. Maharaja (IMDb: 8.3)

In Maharaja, Sethupathi delivers a powerful performance as a barber whose seemingly simple request at a police station slowly unravels into a gripping emotional mystery. Directed by Nithilan Saminathan, the film stands out for its layered narrative and shocking revelations, with Sethupathi anchoring the story through restraint rather than theatrics.

Streaming on: Netflix

3. Vikram Vedha (IMDb: 8.2)

Often considered a modern classic, Vikram Vedha reimagines the Vikram–Betaal folklore in a crime-thriller setting. Vijay Sethupathi’s portrayal of gangster Vedha—charismatic, unpredictable, and philosophically complex—became instantly iconic. His face-offs with R Madhavan’s cop character remain among the most celebrated performances in Tamil cinema.

Streaming on: JioHotstar

4. Super Deluxe (IMDb: 8.2)

Directed by Thiagarajan Kumararaja, Super Deluxe is an audacious, multi-narrative film that challenged societal norms. Sethupathi played Shilpa, a transgender woman returning to her family, earning widespread acclaim for his sensitive and fearless portrayal. The role marked a turning point in mainstream representation and is still regarded as one of his bravest choices.

Streaming on: Aha

5. Master (IMDb: 7.4)

In Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Master, Sethupathi took on the role of Bhavani, a ruthless antagonist who manipulates children for criminal activities. Sharing screen space with Thalapathy Vijay, Sethupathi stood out for his chilling screen presence and grounded villainy, making Bhavani one of the more memorable antagonists in recent Tamil cinema.

Streaming on: Prime Video

Why Vijay Sethupathi’s films score high on IMDb

What sets Vijay Sethupathi apart is his genre fluidity—he seamlessly moves between romance, crime, comedy, social drama, and experimental cinema. His performances often elevate the script, making even unconventional narratives accessible to mainstream audiences. Moreover, his willingness to play morally complex or socially challenging characters has earned him long-term critical respect.

Beyond IMDb: Sethupathi’s lasting impact

While IMDb ratings reflect popularity and critical consensus, Vijay Sethupathi’s true strength lies in how his films age well. Many of his performances continue to gain appreciation years after release, especially among younger audiences discovering his work through streaming platforms.

As he enters another year of his career, Vijay Sethupathi remains one of Indian cinema’s most reliable storytellers—an actor who prioritizes content over stardom.

For many Stranger Things fans, the show’s finale didn’t land with a sense of closure—it lingered. The final episode felt less like a goodbye and more like a pause, leaving viewers emotionally unsettled. A newly released Netflix documentary, One Last Adventure, now suggests that this reaction was not accidental, but a reflection of the uncertainty, creative fear, and unresolved debates that shaped the final season.

The two-hour documentary offers rare behind-the-scenes access to the making of Stranger Things 5 and reveals how the Duffer Brothers wrestled with ending a series that had grown into a global cultural phenomenon. More importantly, it sheds light on why Eleven’s fate remained ambiguous—and why the finale resisted a neat resolution.

A finale born out of fear and creative tension

Early in the documentary, creators Matt and Ross Duffer openly admit how nervous they were about concluding the show. With Stranger Things carrying massive expectations, the pressure to deliver a satisfying ending was overwhelming.

They reveal that they entered production without a completed finale script, an admission that explains much of the tonal uncertainty viewers sensed onscreen.

“We went into production without having a finished script for the finale. That was scary,” one of them admits.

The fear wasn’t just about logistics—it was emotional. Ending Stranger Things meant deciding the emotional fate of characters fans had grown up with, especially Eleven, the heart of the show.

The darkest idea that almost defined the ending

One of the documentary’s most striking revelations is that the writers initially considered an extremely dark conclusion. Footage from the writers’ room shows discussions centred on the idea that the entire finale would build toward Eleven sacrificing herself.

A line heard during early brainstorming is chilling:

“The whole episode has to be building up to ‘Eleven is going to kill herself.’”

This idea divided the room. While some believed the emotional weight would feel honest and powerful, others worried it would betray the show’s core theme of hope, friendship, and survival.

Why ambiguity won over certainty

What followed was not consensus, but creative conflict. Matt Duffer is seen visibly overwhelmed by the emotional stakes, while other writers question whether Eleven should decide to die or still be wavering.

Ross Duffer eventually articulates what would become the backbone of the finale: ambiguity as a feature, not a flaw.

Instead of giving audiences a definitive answer, the creators leaned into uncertainty—constantly toying with expectations, hope, and fear. This approach explains why the finale feels unresolved: it was designed to be emotionally open-ended rather than narratively closed.

Eleven’s disappearance: symbolism over answers

Later in the documentary, Matt Duffer reflects on Eleven’s symbolic role:
“She represents magic. And magic has to leave for the world to move on.”

In the final moments of Episode 8, The Rightside Up, Eleven disappears from Hawkins. There’s no confirmation of death, survival, or exile—only absence. Meanwhile, Mike and the group return to their basement to play Dungeons & Dragons, with Mike narrating a hopeful fate for Eleven as the group says, “I believe.”

This moment reframes the ending as a story within a story, inviting viewers to choose what they believe happened next.

Why the ending feels unfinished—and why that was intentional

The documentary makes it clear: the finale’s lack of closure mirrors the creators’ own uncertainty. The Duffers were balancing three competing forces:

1. Emotional truth – staying honest to the characters
2. Audience expectations – avoiding disappointment
3. Future possibilities – keeping the universe open for spin-offs

By choosing ambiguity, they avoided finality. For some viewers, this felt unsatisfying. For others, it felt deeply human—reflecting how real-life endings often work.

A finale that invites belief, not certainty

Stranger Things 5 was released in three volumes, with the final episode premiering on January 1 in India. With One Last Adventure, Netflix has now reframed the finale not as an incomplete ending, but as a deliberate creative choice shaped by fear, doubt, and respect for the audience.

Whether Eleven found peace, vanished into another world, or lived quietly beyond Hawkins is left to belief. And perhaps that’s the point—the story doesn’t end because imagination doesn’t.