‘Experience is terrible’: Audience frustrated with Dhurandhar 2 livestream on JioHotstar

Aditya Dhar’s spy-thriller movie ‘Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge’ is finally available on an OTT platform, JioHotstar, after a long wait. However, the excitement of finally being able to watch the movie from the comfort of one’s home was extremely short-lived as audiences got disappointed at how the movie was literally being live-streamed on the platform.

Audience frustrated with livestream

Ranveer Singh featuring blockbuster movie Dhurandhar 2, has finally had its digital debut in India on June 4. The movie, which was released on JioHotstar, left fans disappointed and complaining as they decided to live-stream the movie for its premiere.

Frustrated audiences took to social media to claim that the format stripped away one of the biggest perks of an OTT release, which is the freedom to watch on their own schedule, and dampened the overall viewing experience.

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One user wrote on X “Why tf is Dhurandhar 2 live streaming on Hotstar? Just release the goddamn movie like a normal ott platform.Who had this stupid idea to live stream it like a TV. Why does s*** like this only happen in India.”

While another complained, “Watching the entire movie Dhurandhar 2 on @JioHotstar and the experience is TERRIBLE. I have turned the volume up and down 100+ times. It’s so bad that keeping the remote away isn’t an option. One moment, it’s too loud, the other moment, you can’t hear anything! Also, why LIVE???”

“Even with an ad free plan, JioHotstar somehow finds ways to test viewers’ patience. While watching the digital premiere of Dhurandhar The Revenge, they keep interrupting the experience with promotions and pointless cast discussions instead of simply letting people watch the movie. If I am paying for an ad free experience, why am I being forced to sit through content I never asked for? This is absolutely pathetic and ridiculous. Netflix remains miles ahead when it comes to respecting the viewer’s time and delivering a seamless viewing experience. JioHotstar still feels more interested in pushing content than actually streaming it. #dhurandhar‌therevenge” another post read.

A box office sensation

Released on December 5, 2025, Dhurandhar emerged as a major box-office success, earning ₹1307 crore worldwide. Its sequel, Dhurandhar 2, which hit theatres on March 19 this year, surpassed the original's performance by grossing more than ₹1790 crore globally. The two films feature an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Gaurav Gera, and Danish Pandor.

The story follows Jaskirat Singh Rangi, also known as Hamza Ali Mazari, who is sent on a covert mission to Lyari in Pakistan to dismantle a terror network. As part of the operation, he infiltrates a Baloch gang, marries the daughter of a local politician, and gradually integrates into the community to achieve his objective.

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While both films received praise for their gripping storytelling and polished execution, they also sparked debate among audiences and critics. Some viewers accused the films of portraying the BJP-led government in a favourable light while overlooking the contributions of previous administrations, leading to allegations that the franchise carried a political agenda. In response to the criticism, several public figures, including Anupam Kher and Piyush Mishra, publicly defended the films.