Did Kartik Aaryan Just Slam Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar as a Hyper-Masculine Action Film?

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Kartik Aaryan recently sparked a massive debate by amplifying a post regarding the current state of Indian cinema. He shared a note by screenwriter Saurabh Bharat that praised his latest film for being a breath of fresh air.

The shared text stated, “It's so heartwarming to see that amidst the madness of hypermasculinity and testosterone-boasting action films, someone is making a breezing progressive film. Congratulations. For building a genre of cinema which entertains yet pushes an envelope deep in the society.” 

Kartik Aaryan Reacts to Hyper-Masculinity in Bollywood

Many industry insiders believe that Kartik’s move was an indirect dig at the violent spy thriller Dhurandhar. While Aaryan only added a heart emoji, the timing suggests he is positioning himself against the wave of aggressive action. It seems that Kartik is strategically branding himself as the last guardian of the sensitive urban hero to survive the macho takeover of the box office. This subtle digital protest acts as a shield against criticism of his film's lower earnings.

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The Box Office Clash Between Tu Meri Main Tera and Dhurandhar

The commercial battle between Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri and Dhurandhar has been largely one-sided. Aditya Dhar’s spy epic has maintained a historic dominance, crossing the Rs. 1000 crore mark globally within 24 days. In contrast, the Kartik Aaryan starrer struggled significantly during its Christmas release window.

On its fourth Sunday, Dhurandhar collected Rs. 22.25 crores, while Kartik’s film managed only Rs. 4.97 crores. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh claimed he warned the makers about the "Dhurandhar wave" and requested a postponement. He noted, “When a film unleashes a tsunami, it's best to shift to another date.” The screen allocation was also heavily skewed, leaving the rom-com with limited shows in major circuits. 

This clash shows that genre-driven momentum now outweighs the traditional “holiday release” advantage in the post-pandemic market. By refusing to change the release date, the studio ignored the sheer scale of the competition.

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