Vijay: Dhurandhar songs rule gyms as films cross Rs 3000 crore

Vijay Deverakonda has just handed Dhurandhar a new title: the unofficial gym soundtrack of South India. On a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra, he and Rashmika Mandanna were asked which Hindi songs get played most in the South, and Vijay pointed straight to the Ranveer Singh-led spy saga. He said the film’s tracks play “non-stop” at gyms there, though he could not recall the exact song names and asked the host to hum them.

The franchise behind the playlist

The Dhurandhar films — Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar: The Revenge — were directed by Aditya Dhar and led by Ranveer Singh, with Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi and R Madhavan in the cast. The first arrived on December 5, 2025, and the second followed on March 19, 2026. Together, the two films have grossed over Rs 3000 crore worldwide.

That number helps explain why the music has travelled so far. A hit soundtrack is often the most repeatable piece of a film — it lives in reels, workout playlists and gym speakers long after the credits roll. Vijay also said he listens to a lot of independent music, but in South gyms, Dhurandhar is the shared language right now.

Ranabaali: the next appointment

The conversation arrives just as Vijay and Rashmika prepare for Ranabaali, which releases worldwide on October 16. It is a Telugu period drama set during British rule, between 1854 and 1878. The story is fictional, inspired by lesser-known chapters from the Rayalaseema region and a fierce warrior named Singanamala Bobbili Ranabaali.

• Vijay plays the title role; Rashmika plays Jayamma.
• The film is directed by Rahul Sankrityan, with music by Ajay-Atul.
• Hollywood actor Arnold Vosloo joins the cast, and shooting wrapped in September.
• It is the pair’s third film together and their first since their wedding, after Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade.

Why this crossover matters

For Hindi film fans, Vijay’s gym comment is a small but telling sign of how Bollywood music is consumed in the southern states — not always through chart positions, but through everyday routines. For Vijay and Rashmika’s audience, Ranabaali is the more immediate event: a historical action drama with a pan-India cast, a popular lead pair and a stage that stretches from Rayalaseema’s lore to an international actor.

If you want the same soundtrack in your head before October 16, the Dhurandhar playlist is a good warm-up. Then book the date for Ranabaali.

Source: The Times of India