New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stolen the spotlight in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Snapshots of his oath-taking scene from the highly anticipated sequel have been circulating online after yesterday’s paid preview screenings. Fans on social media even said that Modi should get a “Best Supporting Actor” award for his cameo.
The film is available in theatres across the country and can also be seen in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and other regional languages. It is set to be one of the biggest pan-India releases of the year.
The makers held paid previews on 18 March, a day ahead of the film’s nationwide release. Prior to the release, however, there was widespread speculation about Modi’s presence in the film and scenes on demonetisation. His famous demonetisation speech, from 8 November 2016, also features in the film. And there are several references to him throughout the film as “chaiwala”. Although nothing was officially confirmed, rumours further rose after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reportedly suggested 21 cuts before granting the film an “A” certificate.
The film chronicles the events after Dhar’s Dhurandhar (2025), starring Ranveer Singh as the lead character with an ensemble cast featuring Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, and Sara Arjun, among others. It was an immediate box office success. It has, however, remained a controversial and trending topic since its release in December last year, with some dubbing the film as “propaganda.” The film’s final box office collection exceeded Rs 1,300 crore, according to Sacnilk.
As the previews rolled out, the speculation turned into confirmation. Modi’s presence, featuring his oath-taking moment, made it to the final cut, leaving social media in a complete meltdown.
Several people shared PM Modi’s appearance online. With one X user quipping, “We used to casually joke about Modi might appear in Dhurandhar 2, and here we are.”
Modi ji cameo in dhurandhar 2😭 pic.twitter.com/99JKSQGmLb
— Stutii (@Sam0kayy) March 18, 2026
Fans on social media shared the atmosphere inside theatres during the paid previews. In some cities, audiences were heard chanting “Jai Modi,” while in others, the PM’s clip was welcomed with loud whistles and applause.
“Just came out after watching Dhurandhar 2. People in my show were chanting ‘Jai Modi. Jai Modi.’ Peak elevation for Modi,” posted one fan.
Another user, Modified Aayush, said on X, “As soon as Modi ji makes his entry in Dhurandhar, the entire theatre erupts with whistles, claps, and hooting everywhere. That moment says it all… his popularity isn’t just real, it’s unstoppable.”
Mai Narendra Damodardas Modi ishwar ki shapat leta hun and the movie hall in kolkata erupted like wow. Man has unreal aura and popularity of a kind of that wont be seen ever.
— Rohit Mundra (@RohitMundraaa) March 18, 2026
“So they’re actually trying to justify demonetisation in Dhurandhar 2…100+ deaths were reported, and millions of people were severely affected by it. The propaganda isn’t even subtle anymore. Kudos to Dhruv Rathee, who saw it coming even before Part 1 was released,” read a tweet by Melbourne_82.
Also Read: Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh is ready for a clash with Dhurandhar 2. ‘It’s a storm’
An uneasy start
Dhurandhar: The Revenge got off to a chaotic start on Wednesday, after several shows across regions were either delayed or cancelled. The Kannada and Malayalam versions, in particular, failed to screen as scheduled after CBFC-approved versions of the film were not delivered on time following the required modifications. Amid the chaos, director Dhar issued an apology addressing the situation.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DWBq9UqEXj6/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
The disruption in paid preview screenings stemmed from last-minute changes requested by the Central Board of Film Certification. The board cleared the film with an “A” certificate but recommended 21 edits, including scene cuts and replacements. This shortened the runtime of the film’s domestic release.
The final runtime of the film in India now stands at three hours, 49 minutes, and 36 seconds.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)