Dhurandhar’s Rs 3,000 crore run reopens door for 90s-2000s actors

The global success of the two-part Dhurandhar saga has done more than put a big number on the board. Actor Shehzad Khan, son of screen legend Ajit, says it is already reshaping how Bollywood looks at familiar faces from the 1990s and 2000s.

The observation follows strong praise for Akshaye Khanna in the first film and Rakesh Bedi in the second. In an interview with ANI, Khan said the industry’s response has been clear:

“Now they want those people, those characters, the hit characters of the 90s and 2000s.”

Khan framed the shift as part of a predictable cycle. Trends rise, fall and return. Right now, according to him, that cycle is bringing recognisable character actors back into leading conversations about Hindi film casting.

Why this matters for fans

This is not just industry talk. If Khan is right, the next few casting announcements should carry a distinct nostalgic charge. Films may increasingly reach for actors who were household faces in the 90s and 2000s but had slipped into smaller or fewer roles.

The logic is simple. Established faces lower the effort an audience needs to connect with a character. When the writing and role are strong, that built-in recognition becomes a multiplier rather than a gimmick.

The two Dhurandhar films pair Ranveer Singh in the lead with a deep bench: Rakesh Bedi, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Akshaye Khanna and Sanjay Dutt. The box-office heft gives the casting conversation real proof.

The proof, in one number

The franchise delivered more than Rs 3,000 crore worldwide across Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar: The Revenge, released in the later part of 2025 and the early months of 2026. That number, per reports, is the kind of result that makes decision-makers reconsider old assumptions.

• The proof: More than Rs 3,000 crore in worldwide gross across the two films.
• The shift: Khan says directors are now actively chasing hit characters from the 90s and 2000s.
• The caveat: He does not place Arjun Rampal’s villain in the same universe as the 1970s icons; he calls it a different genre.

The 1970s villains stay separate

Khan was careful about the comparison game. He argued that Arjun Rampal’s antagonist in Dhurandhar cannot be measured directly against icons such as Prem Chopra, Ranjeet, Premnath or Pran. Rampal, he said, is “a different genre of villain.”

That distinction preserves the myth of the 1970s villains. Khan recalled families once hesitating to name children Ranjit or Ajit because the screen image those actors carried was so potent. It is a useful reminder that nostalgia can be a tool, but some legends are not meant to be repeated.

What to watch next

For fans, the next step is to track upcoming ensemble announcements. If the Dhurandhar effect is real, more 90s and 2000s faces should resurface in strong, well-defined parts rather than blink-and-miss cameos.

The bigger test will be whether these actors get roles that use their skill, not just their familiarity. Sentiment can open a door, but only good writing keeps it open.

Source: The Times of India