Samriti Dhatwalia
Veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan, known for directing films like Hera Pheri and Bhool Bhulaiyaa, took to social media to applaud director Aditya Dhar for his espionage thriller Dhurandhar. Priyadarshan expressed that seeing his former associate succeed brings him immense joy.
A Mentor’s Pride: “No Greater Happiness…”
In an Instagram post, Priyadarshan shared a throwback photo with Dhar from earlier days and wrote that “there is no greater happiness than watching my disciple rise with such remarkable success.” He congratulated Dhar on the phenomenal performance of Dhurandhar and extended his best wishes for Dhurandhar 2.
Dhurandhar’s Success Story
Dhurandhar, which stars Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, has been a huge hit at the box office, crossing the ₹1,200 crore mark globally. The film’s mix of high-octane action and gripping espionage storytelling has drawn praise from many in the industry.
Aditya Dhar’s Emotional Response
Aditya Dhar also responded to Priyadarshan’s heartfelt message. In the comments, he thanked his mentor for believing in him when he was just starting out — “when I was a nobody, and when all I had was conviction and a few written pages.” Dhar said Priyadarshan gave him more than work — “dignity, trust, and love.”
He added that in an industry where he learned what not to do, Priyadarshan taught him what to do — both as a filmmaker and as a human being. Dhar signed off by calling himself Priyadarshan’s student first and said the film’s success belongs to his mentor as much as to him.