In the upcoming months, two films with a similar premise are slated for release, and as quickly as the internet reacted to them, it was just as quick to compare them.
Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar and Salman Khan’s Battle of Galwan both center around India’s geopolitical conflicts.
Battle of Galwan is inspired by the real-life Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020. On the other hand, Dhurandhar is set against the backdrop of the India-Pakistan tension, where India’s top spy goes undercover in enemy territory, risking everything to gather intelligence and prevent a major crisis.
While both films are patriotic and undoubtedly packed with action, fans have been quick to discuss the vastly different approaches the two are taking, from PR strategies to the content revealed so far.
One of the biggest points of discussion is the cast.
Battle of Galwan stars Salman Khan alongside Chitrangada Singh, Zeyn Shaw, Ankur Bhatia, Harshil Shah, Heera Sohal, Vipin Bhardwaj, Abhilash Chaudhry, Abhishrri Sen, Chintan Gandhi, Chintan Shah, Suresh Nair, and Shelraj Patel.
Apart from Salman and Chitrangada, none of the other cast members are widely known, or even remotely popular. Many are speculating that some of them are friends or relatives of Salman, cast purely through personal connections.
On the other hand, Dhurandhar boasts a powerhouse lineup of R. Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, and Sanjay Dutt. Just the announcement and brief glimpses of their characters have already sent fans into a frenzy.
Many fans are now voicing the opinion that Salman should stop prioritizing friends and family in casting decisions, especially at the cost of his own career. While it’s admirable that he’s giving new faces a platform, it’s hurting his credibility and star power.
Some even say this pattern has made Salman a Tier-2 city star, instead of the nationwide superstar he once was.
Fans are frustrated to watch their superstar lose his credibility because of such actions. As a result, people have already started taking Salman’s work less seriously.
The film lacks aura, star power, and any excitement surrounding it. If the makers themselves don’t seem excited, how can the fans be?
On the other hand, Dhurandhar has everything that this film doesn’t. It boasts a strong and powerful cast alongside Ranveer Singh, which in itself has left fans thrilled.
Even the first glimpse and announcement of the two films differ significantly. Dhurandhar’s first look left a much bigger impact on the audience.
If Salman continues with this charity-style casting, fans believe he’s going to lose this cinematic face-off and lose it badly.
