Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar Hits No. 1 On Netflix Amid Streaming Controversy | Deets Inside

Dhurandhar didn’t just arrive on Netflix, it kicked the door down. After tearing up the box office in theatres, Ranveer Singh’s high-octane actioner made its much-awaited OTT debut on January 30, and viewers rushed in. But the excitement quickly turned into online chaos as fans flagged issues with the film’s visual quality. Days later, the noise seems to have paid off. The film is now sitting comfortably at the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s trending list, with reports suggesting the platform quietly rolled out improvements.

Soon after Dhurandhar began streaming, social media lit up with complaints about dull visuals and muted colours. Viewers who had seen the film on the big screen felt the OTT version did not do justice to its scale and cinematography.

One frustrated user posted, “Please change the colour grading and stream the uncut version. These are my only wishes!” Another echoed the sentiment, writing, “Please change the colour grading on the Netflix version back to the theatrical version.”

The criticism grew sharper as more viewers chimed in. A tweet read, “It is not so bright on Netflix as shown above. Pathetic colour tone. Looks so so dull. We have to the keep the brightness to the highest level in order to see such epic scenes properly. Netflix, you have messed up big time!” Another disappointed fan asked, “Why is #DhurandharOnNetflix looking so dull on Netflix. The colour grading seems so off, is it just me? Is it Netflix issue or my TV issue. Haven’t observed this for any other movie though.”

Amid the backlash, reports now suggest that Netflix updated the film’s streaming quality. The revised version is said to feature a much higher bitrate, approximately 12.56 mbps, compared to the earlier 1.79 mbps. Following this change, several users acknowledged an improvement in the viewing experience, with many thanking the platform for addressing the issue.

As for edits, the film’s runtime remains largely unchanged. The only alteration continues to be the removal of Sanjay Dutt’s character SP Aslam’s Balochi dialogue, which had earlier sparked strong objections from a community and led to a legal complaint. That scene was previously removed from theatrical prints as well, and no additional cuts have been introduced on Netflix.

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar stars Ranveer Singh in the lead, alongside Akshaye Khanna, Sara Arjun, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and others. The story follows an Indian spy who enters Pakistan on a covert mission and finds himself deep inside the dangerous world of the Lyari mafia. The film is inspired by real events.

Meanwhile, work on Dhurandhar 2 is already underway, with the sequel scheduled for a theatrical release on March 19. Recent behind-the-scenes visuals from the Mumbai sets — showing characters played by Arjun Rampal and Sanjay Dutt locked in an intense exchange — have fuelled speculation about the next chapter. Reports suggest the sequel will dive into Hamza Mazhari’s revenge arc and finally reveal the identity of the mysterious ‘Bade Sahab’, a character many believe draws inspiration from gangster Dawood Ibrahim.