For all the chatter around box-office numbers and the espionage spectacle of Dhurandhar, one of its most distinctive qualities lies in its visual approach. Aditya Dhar’s latest film doesn’t just aim for scale—it uses its look and texture to pull viewers into its tense, unpredictable world. The cinematography, led by DoP Vikash Nowlakha, forms the backbone of this experience.

Inside the visual grit of Dhurandhar: How Aditya Dhar and Vikash Nowlakha crafted this Ranveer Singh starrer spy thriller that feels real

Nowlakha tells us, “I’ve waited my entire life for a film that allowed this texture … and with this one Aditya truly let me off the leash – for this I’m grateful! The stakes were high and the clock’s always ticking – but this one in particular had a tremendous amount of material to cover. We shot the equivalent of 4 movies in the time and budget allotted for one. Often, in the most chaotic of situations – if it could break – it broke …. mayhem was the mainstay and that became a language! But then again – ‘calm seas have never made a good sailor’. The world of the film should feel like it is watching you back.”

One of the film’s boldest choices is its use of shadow as narrative. Darkness isn’t treated as a stylistic flourish—it becomes subtext. Narrow corridors, dim Karachi safehouses, and rooms lit by a single practical source create a sense of unease that lingers.

The desaturated color palette is another deliberate move. In a year dominated by neon-heavy, high-contrast blockbusters, Dhurandhar opts for muted tones that suit its story of infiltration and duplicity. Geography plays a role too—the film integrates its locations into the visual strategy, making the terrain feel harsh and lived-in.

Action sequences follow an anti-glamour approach. While 2025 has seen several VFX-driven spectacles, Dhurandhar keeps its set pieces grounded, expanding the visual scale without losing grit. This restraint gives the film a distinct identity in a season crowded with franchise extensions and high-voltage releases. Nowlakha credits his director: “Hats off to Aditya – he was threading a needle while riding a bull.”

Inside the visual grit of Dhurandhar: How Aditya Dhar and Vikash Nowlakha crafted this Ranveer Singh starrer spy thriller that feels real

Speaking of Dhurandhar, it is a spy action thriller written inspired by true events, directed, and co-produced by Aditya Dhar. Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Aditya Dhar, and Lokesh Dhar under Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the film stars Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi, with Manav Gohil, Danish Pandor, Saumya Tandon, Gaurav Gera, and Naveen Kaushik in supporting roles. It released worldwide on December 5, 2025.

Also Read: Karan Johar declares Dhurandhar as his all-time favourite performance of Ranveer Singh; calls it ‘outstanding’