Where is politics? Danish Pandor hits back amid Dhurandhar 2 propaganda debate

As conversations around the "politics" of Dhurandhar: The Revenge grow louder, actor Danish Pandor, who plays gangster Uzair Baloch, offers a grounded, almost disarming counterpoint: for him, the film is simply storytelling, and everything else is interpretation.

"Where is politics involved in it?" he asks plainly. "It is a matter of storytelling. Once the film is out, it belongs to the audience. They can interpret it the way they feel," he says in an exclusive interview with India Today.

Pandor’s response comes at a time when Aditya Dhar's film is not just dominating the box office, but also sparking debates - from its violence to its subtext. But within that noise, Pandor remains anchored in the experience of making and performing.

Part 2 is more intense, more accelerated

Reflecting on the film's reception, Pandor says the response has been overwhelming, even surreal, but also distinctly different from the first part. "I think it has just exaggerated and accelerated from the first one," he says. "Part one was more about character establishment - understanding where Hamza comes from, how the Baloch brothers run the business. Part two is more about revenge. It's more intense," he explains.

That shift, he believes, is also why the audience reaction has been so visceral. "It feels surreal. You expect these things to happen, but when they actually do, it's a different feeling altogether," he says.

The scene everyone is talking about

(No spoilers ahead, don't stop reading just here)

One of the film's most popular moments - the brutal killing sequence (football) involving his character - was something Pandor knew would stand out from the start. "I was very excited, very thrilled," he recalls. "We haven't experienced this kind of scene in Indian cinema before," he says.

But the excitement came with pressure. "It was a big responsibility. I didn’t want to disappoint the director, especially with such an intense and pivotal scene," he says. Interestingly, the sequence came early in his shooting schedule. "You won't believe it - it was my third day of shoot. I was still settling in, and suddenly I was doing one of the most important scenes," he says.

To prepare, he leaned heavily on groundwork. "I was doing homework for all my scenes well in advance - understanding the character, working on the dialect, going through research material. With such scenes, it's a thin line. It can go over the top or fall flat. The key is that people should connect with the emotional burden."

The shoot itself was physically demanding. "We didn't shoot it in one go. There were multiple takes, different camera angles. You have to stay in the zone the entire day," he says, adding, "I even injured my thumb during the scene. I didn't realise it in the moment, and then I saw actual blood. That was scary."

On criticism: It's very subjective

While a section of viewers and commentators have criticised the film, Pandor insists that the larger audience response has been overwhelmingly positive. "Whoever I've met hasn't criticised the film at all. But even if they do, it’s their right," he says, adding, "Cinema is subjective. One person's view doesn't mean everyone will feel the same."

He adds that the ongoing debate is, in fact, a sign of engagement. "When people are talking about a film, that's important. It sparks conversation," he says.

And for him, the ultimate metric is simple: repeat value. "I haven't met a single person who has watched it just once. People are watching it multiple times - that says something," he adds.

On Aditya Dhar's politics

The bigger question, however, remains, is Dhurandhar 2 a political film? Pandor doesn't think so. "It's not about pushing any agenda," he says, adding, "It's about portraying a story with emotional truth. People might interpret it differently, but that's not coming from the director's intent."

Even when pushed on the idea that all art is inherently political, he circles back to the same belief. "It's open to interpretation. But we are not making a film with a political agenda," he highlights.

As for how Dhar himself might be reacting to these conversations, Pandor can only speculate - but he doubts the filmmaker is bothered. "I don't think it would affect him. If anything, he must be ecstatic," he says, adding, "What the film has achieved - it's huge. It's like there's a cinema before Dhurandhar and after it."

"Don't give away the surprise"

The actor is also clear about one thing: preserving the film's twists was crucial. "I didn't tell even my family or friends about the film for 1.5 years," he reveals. "The moment you reveal things, the surprise element is gone. And that defeats the purpose of a beautifully written script," he said.

Not everyone on set knew everything either. "Only a few people were aware of certain things. There has to be that level of privacy," he said.

Looking ahead

With the film's success translating into attention, Pandor admits offers have started coming in, but he's cautious. "It's a responsibility now," he says. "People have shown so much love, so I have to choose carefully. I just want to do impactful roles, characters that stay with the audience," he said.

He's not chasing stardom as much as substance. "Of course, I'd love to headline projects. But more than that, I want roles that push my limits as an actor."

Between the noise of box office numbers, debates, and viral moments, Pandor's perspective feels almost old-school: a belief in the story, the performance, and the audience's right to interpret. Or, as he puts it simply, "Once the film is out, it's not ours anymore. It belongs to the audience."