Jyoti Deshpande explains why Ranveer Singh beat ‘so-called stars’ for Dhurandhar

New Delhi: Ranveer Singh was chosen to headline Dhurandhar because the makers prioritised performance over star value, according to producer and Jio Studios president Jyoti Deshpande. Reflecting on the film’s journey, she said bringing in higher-priced stars would have made the ambitious project financially difficult from the very beginning.

Speaking to Outlook Business, Deshpande recalled that Dhurandhar went through several changes during production, with the original plan eventually expanding into two films. Despite repeated budget overruns, she said the team continued to support the project because they had complete faith in its potential.

Explaining the casting decision, Deshpande said the film was already mounted on a massive scale, leaving little room for additional expenditure. She said every rupee had to be visible on screen, and hiring expensive “so-called stars” would have made the project commercially unviable. Instead, the makers looked for actors capable of fully inhabiting their characters.

Deshpande also reflected on her long association with Ranveer, having worked with him on Ram-Leela and Bajirao Mastani. She said she had witnessed his growth from the early stages of his career and still considers those films among his finest performances.

Praising the actor, she said Ranveer’s biggest strength lies in his ability to disappear into a role rather than relying on his celebrity image. Whether portraying Bajirao, Alauddin Khilji or Murad in Gully Boy, he completely transforms into the character instead of playing himself, she added.

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar released in 2025 and reportedly earned more than Rs 1,300 crore worldwide, making it one of the biggest Hindi blockbusters. Its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, went on to collect over Rs 1,700 crore globally, cementing the franchise among Indian cinema’s highest-grossing titles.