What is the story about?
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has sparked a heated discussion ahead of one of the most significant box-office battles of 2026 by commenting on the eagerly
awaited showdown between Ranveer Singh’sDhurandhar 2 and Yash's Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups. Both movies are scheduled to premiere on March 19, and RGV has dramatically dubbed the encounter as 'Dhuroxic', framing it as much more than a mere clash of release dates. The renowned director referred to it as the 'Judgement Day' for Indian cinema. Continue reading...
Ram Gopal Varma claims Toxic is 'extremely unrealistic'
Taking to X, Varma posted a lengthy, candid message contrasting what he perceives as two conflicting cinematic ideologies. Without holding back, the director characterized Dhurandhar as a gritty, impactful story grounded in realism, while labeling Toxic as a showcase of style-driven fantasy.
He stated, “#Dhuroxic on March 19th will represent the ultimate confrontation between ultra realistic cinema and ultra unrealistic cinema. D is constructed on cause, leading to effect and consequence. It illustrates that violence has moral, psychological, and political roots. The characters act out of necessity, not for the sake of appearing cool. It trusts the audience's intelligence, whereas in T, style takes precedence over logic. Violence is portrayed to express attitude, not necessity. T presumes the audience seeks stimulation rather than emotional connection."
Dhurandhar, as RGV described, acknowledges harsh realities and 'disturbs', while Toxic promotes fantasy disguised as seriousness and 'aims to impress'. The director elaborated, "D’s protagonist is relatable; he can fail, misjudge, suffer, and age. His strength is limited and contextual. T’s protagonist is invulnerable from the start. The narrative contorts itself to safeguard his 'ultra cool factor'. The world is designed to idolize him. D communicates through silence, while T is loud."
RGV believes the 'Dhuroxic' clash could mark the end of hero worship or...
Discussing the cinematographic approach in both films, Varma continued, "D's camera acts as an observer, with frames that are observational. Editing honors time, geography, and narrative. T's camera acts as a master, with slow motion distorting reality. Editing creates a false sense of intensity.”
RGV framed Dhuroxic as a cinematic litmus test for Indian viewers, challenging long-standing notions of hero worship and stylized violence. “#Dhuroxic on March 19th will provide answers to many questions,” he wrote, questioning whether audiences would keep “cheering for the same dark hero striding in slow motion,” or equate “smoking in slow motion” with depth of character. He further likened the experience of watching both films to “being in a war zone versus attending a fashion shoot.”
The filmmaker wrapped up with a thought-provoking statement, suggesting that the clash could either herald “the dawn of the end of hero worship led by the pan-India giants from the south” or confirm that audiences still desire larger-than-life, god-like figures. “#Dhuroxic won’t merely be another clash; it will be a confrontation between reality and style,” he asserted. Ultimately, the post concluded with, "#Dhuroxic could be a pivotal moment in cinema where the audience ceases to be devotees and ridicules bulletproof masculinity, demonstrating that they no longer seek gods, but rather relatable humans OR IT CAN BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND..ONLY GOD and AUDIENCE WILL KNOW", and labeled March 19 as “#Dhuroxic JUDGEMENT DAY.”
For context, Dhurandhar, which premiered on December 5, 2025, features Ranveer Singh alongside Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and others. The film follows an Indian spy who infiltrates Pakistan to dismantle gangster Rehman Dakait’s operation and has received positive word of mouth and repeat viewership at the box office. The sequel is set to release on March 19.
Meanwhile, Toxic, directed by Geetu Mohandas, stars Yash with a supporting cast that includes Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, and Tara Sutaria. The film’s March 19 release coincides with significant festive holidays, creating a backdrop for what RGV believes could be a transformative moment for Indian cinema.
