Now Reading: Ram Gopal Varma’s Dhurandhar post sparks Toxic rivalry talk
-
01
Ram Gopal Varma’s Dhurandhar post sparks Toxic rivalry talk
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma posted on X that he was 'Now watching Dhurandhar again,' shortly after Yash's 'Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups' released on August 26, 2026. The Times of India reports…
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma posted on X that he was 'Now watching Dhurandhar again,' shortly after Yash's 'Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups' released on August 26, 2026. The Times of India reports that Varma's post came as 'Toxic' overtook 'Dhurandhar's opening-day box office numbers, earning over Rs 79 crore net in India on day one. The Hindustan Times adds that many online interpreted the timing as a dig at 'Toxic' receiving mixed reviews.
Varma had previously compared the two films ahead of their originally planned March clash, arguing that 'Dhurandhar respects the audience's intelligence and Toxic presumes their dumbness.' 'Toxic,' directed by Geetu Mohandas, stars Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, and others, and has drawn praise for visuals but criticism for narrative depth. The box office clash was avoided when 'Toxic' was postponed from March to August.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both sources report the same post and box office figure neutrally, but Times of India leads with the box office overtaking, framing the post as a reaction to commercial reality. Hindustan Times foregrounds the negative reviews and internet mockery, emphasising a public relations angle. Neither source critically examines Varma's past claim that one film respects audience intelligence while the other presumes dumbness. The balanced take: Varma's post is an unsubstantiated provocation, but the commercial and critical divergence between the two films gives it weight. The key figure to watch is whether 'Toxic' maintains its lead over 'Dhurandhar' in the week ahead.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report), hindustantimes.com (sensationalist)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry.
