A Reddit post recently went viral, claiming that Saif Ali Khan’s 2015 film ‘Phantom’ is on par with the box office hit Dhurandhar. The post, which got over 2.5k upvotes, praised the Phantom as a gritty,
realistic spy thriller.
While the post was made nearly a month ago, users continue to contribute to the debate, mostly arguing that Kabir Khan’s 2015 direction lacked focus.
In the post, the user highlighted that Saif Ali Khan’s quiet, conflicted performance and Katrina Kaif’s convincing role made Phantom promising. The user called the movie “ahead of its time,” noting that it focused on realism over spectacle and felt more mature.
“Watched today, it feels far more mature than it was credited for. In spirit and intent, Phantom stands on par with Dhurandhar,” the user said.
With nearly 350 comments, the post has sparked widespread discussion. Many users shared differing opinions, with some agreeing with the comparison while others criticised it.
Phantom is par with Dhurandhar, Watch it if possible!! Underrated!
byu/Expert-Molasses-905 inbollywood
‘Story Had Scope But Lacked Execution’
“Damn, it wasn’t ahead of time. Let’s stop calling every average film “ahead of its time.” The story had some scope, but Kabir Khan’s direction was weak and unfocused. The screenplay lacked grip, the execution was messy,” a user posted.
“Don’t think so! It was very boring to be honest,” another user posted.
Some users felt that Phantom is overrated and criticised its political writing as weak. On comparison with Dhurandhar, a user questioned whether it had the same rawness or impact as Ranveer Singh’s film, which has turned into a massive hit across India.
“The novel on which the movie is based is too good. The director definitely failed to execute the idea,” a user commented, referring to the book Mumbai Avengers, written by S. Hussain Zaidi.
Another user argued that Akshay Kumar’s Baby and not Phantom, is on par with Dhurandhar.
“For me, Baby is better than Dhurandar,” a user reacted to this comment.
Some Comments Supported Phantom
There were many supporters of Phantom as well, who agreed with the user that the movie did not receive the appreciation that it deserved.
“Aah, yes, last night I was looking for this movie. It was the only one anywhere close to Dhurandhar. It’s just that it came way before its time,” a user said.
A few other comments also seemed to agree, with one noting: “still don’t understand why people hate it.”
Dhurandhar continues its strong box office performance, earning more than Rs 800 crore India net. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film is inspired by true events and explores crime, patriotism and espionage in Lyari, Pakistan.
