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Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has ignited a fiery debate ahead of one of 2026’s biggest box-office showdowns by weighing in on the much-anticipated clash between
Ranveer Singh’sDhurandhar 2 and Yash-starrer Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups. Both films are set to hit theatres on March 19, and RGV has dramatically christened the clash 'Dhuroxic' positioning it as far more than just a release-date collision. The ace director called it the 'Judgement Day' of Indian cinema. Read on...
Ram Gopal Varma says Toxic is 'ultra-unrealistic'
Taking to X, Varma shared a long, no-holds-barred post comparing what he sees as two opposing cinematic philosophies. Without mincing words, the director framed Dhurandhar as a grounded, hard-hitting narrative rooted in realism, while calling Toxic an exercise in style-driven fantasy.
He wrote, “#Dhuroxic on March 19th will be the ultimate clash between ultra realistic cinema and ultra unrealistic cinema. D is built on cause , leading to effect and consequence. It reveals that violence has moral, psychological, and political foundations. The Characters act because they must, not because they will look cool. Believes the audience is intelligent whereas, In T Style precedes logic. Violence exists to display attitude, not necessity. T assumes the audience wants stimulation, not emotional engagement."
Dhurandhar, wrote RGV, respects grim reality and 'unsettles', while Toxic sells fantasy dressed as seriousness and 'tries to impress'. The director further wrote, "D’s Protagonist is human, He can fail, misjudge, bleed, age. His power is limited and contextual. T’s Protagonist is born bulletproof. The story bends backwards to protect his “ultra cool factor”. The world exists to worship him. D speaks in silence, T shouts."
RGV thinks the 'Dhuroxic' clash will be end of hero worship or...
Talking about the direction in camera work in both, Varma continued, "D Camera behaves like a witness, Frames are observational. Editing respects time, geography and narrative. T Camera behaves like a master. Slow motion bloats reality. Editing manufactures non existent intensity”
RGV went on to frame Dhuroxic as a kind of cinematic litmus test for Indian audiences, questioning long-held ideas around hero worship and stylised violence. “#Dhuroxic on March 19th will answer many questions,” he wrote, before asking whether audiences would continue to “root for the same dark hero walking in slow motion,” or equate “smoking in slow motion” with character depth. He further compared the experience of watching the two films together as “being inside a war zone versus next to a fashion shoot.”
The filmmaker concluded with a provocative thought, suggesting the clash could either signal “the beginning of the end of hero worship ushered in by the pan India biggies from the south” or prove that audiences still crave larger-than-life, god-like heroes. “#Dhuroxic won’t be just another clash, it’ll be a collision between truth and styling,” he declared. At last, the post ended with, "#Dhuroxic can be a defining moment in cinema where the audience stop becoming devotees , and scoff at bulletproof masculinity proving that they no longer want gods , but only relatable humans OR IT CAN BE VICE VERSA..THAT ONLY GOD and AUDIENCE WILL KNOW", and called March 19 “#Dhuroxic JUDGEMENT DAY.”
For context, Dhurandhar, which released on December 5, 2025, stars Ranveer Singh alongside Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and others. The film follows an Indian spy who goes undercover in Pakistan to dismantle gangster Rehman Dakait’s network and has enjoyed strong word of mouth and repeat value at the box office. The second part of the film will release on March 19.
Meanwhile, Toxic, directed by Geetu Mohandas, features Yash with an ensemble cast including Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, and Tara Sutaria. The film’s March 19 release coincides with major festive holidays, setting the stage for what RGV believes could be a defining moment for Indian cinema.
