Rajkumar Santoshi reacts to ‘Dhurandhar’ reference to his films ‘Ghayal’, ‘Ghatak’

Mumbai, August 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi has shared his reaction to the reference to his acclaimed films ‘Ghayal’ and ‘Ghatak’ in Aditya Dhar’s blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar’, saying the tribute gave him immense satisfaction as a filmmaker.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, Santoshi said such references reassure him that his work has left a lasting impact and continues to be remembered by audiences.

In ‘Dhurandhar’, Ranveer Singh’s character is heard saying, “Ghayal hoon, isiliye Ghatak hoon” (I am hurt, and that is why I am dangerous), in what was widely seen as a tribute to the Sunny Deol-starrer films.

Sunny Deol had earlier clarified that he did not receive any royalty for the dialogue, describing its use as a gesture of respect rather than a commercial arrangement. He said such tributes are about the legacy of a film and the emotions associated with it.

Reacting to the reference, Santoshi told IANS, “It gives immense satisfaction as a maker that we have done a good job. Otherwise, when do people remember? But for Ghayal, Ghatak, and Damini, people remember everything. They remember all the dialogues.”

The filmmaker also congratulated Aditya Dhar and the entire team of ‘Dhurandhar’, expressing his hope that the director continues to deliver successful films.

“So, I really congratulate Dhurandhar’s success. He should make more progress. He is a very good filmmaker. I want him to succeed in a very big way. In the future also,” Santoshi said.

Asked whether he knew that ‘Dhurandhar’ would become a hit, Santoshi said he was informed about the dialogue’s inclusion soon after the film’s release.

“Yes, people told me immediately. They used the dialogue in the film. Good, but they used it correctly. They didn’t misuse it,” he said.

‘Dhurandhar’ stars Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan and Sara Arjun in key roles. The franchise, comprising ‘Dhurandhar’ (2025) and ‘Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge’ (2026), has reportedly grossed more than Rs 3,000 crore worldwide, becoming the first Hindi-language franchise to cross the milestone.