Veteran director Priyadarshan has praised his former protégé Aditya Dhar for the blockbuster success of Dhurandhar. In an emotional Instagram post, he celebrated Aditya's rise from a dialogue writer to an acclaimed filmmaker.
Veteran director Priyadarshan congratulated Aditya Dhar on the success of his gangster actioner Dhurandhar by sharing a behind-the-scenes photo from the sets of Tezz on Instagram, showing a young Aditya in discussion with him. The caption read: “There is no greater happiness than watching my disciple rise with such remarkable success. Congratulations Aditya Dhar on Dhurandhar, and heartfelt best wishes for Dhurandhar 2.”
Aditya responded with an emotional comment: “My Dearest Priyan Sir… this means more to me than I can ever put into words!! You believed in me when I was a nobody, and when all I had was conviction and a few written pages. You treated me like an equal, and gave me something far more precious than just work – dignity, trust, and love… In an industry where I often learnt what not to do, you taught me exactly what to do, not just as a filmmaker, but as a human being. From writing dialogues for Aakrosh and Tezz to standing here today, every step carries your imprint. I will forever be your student first. Thank you for everything, Sir. This success is as much yours as it is mine.”
Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, has crossed Rs 790 crore in India. The film, centered on Kashmir themes, draws from Aditya's experiences as a Kashmiri Pandit who has endured hardship. Anurag Kashyap also praised the filmmaking as “top notch” on Letterboxd, noting Aditya's honesty and significance despite potential political debates.
Aditya began his career working with Priyadarshan as a dialogue writer on Tezz and Aakrosh. The film has received acclaim from filmmakers like Ram Gopal Varma, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, and Karan Johar. As a two-part saga, the second installment is slated for Eid 2026, set to clash with Yash's Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups.
