Dhurandhar: The Revenge Is Dividing Audiences — Here's What Psychology Says About That

Dhurandhar: The Revenge Is Dividing Audiences — Here's What Psychology Says About That

Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the nearly four-hour Bollywood blockbuster starring Ranveer Singh, opened in North American theaters on March 19, 2026, and has already crossed $10.5 million at the US box office. But the sequel to India's highest-grossing Hindi-language film is sparking something more than box office records: fierce arguments in theater lobbies, family group chats, and social media threads across the country.

The film has been called "unapologetically nationalistic" by critics, with sharp messaging around religious and national identity. According to NBC News, audiences are bracing for arguments before the opening credits roll. So why do some movies trigger such powerful reactions — and what does that tell us about our own mental state?

Why Political Films Hit Differently

When you watch a deeply emotional film — especially one that frames complex issues in terms of us-versus-them — your brain isn't just passively receiving entertainment. Research published in Psychiatry and Cinema (PMC, National Center for Biotechnology Information) confirms that films elicit emotions through mirror neuron activation: you feel joy, anger, and fear alongside characters because your brain is wired to empathize with them.

For politically charged content, this effect is amplified. A 2021 study in the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media found that exposure to biographical and ideological films significantly increased political engagement among 310 participants. People who felt moved by what they watched were more likely to discuss the subject, seek out information, and consider taking action.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge is a case study in this mechanism. The film opens with a provocative line about religious identity, then follows undercover agent Hamza Ali Mazari through scenes incorporating real historical events — including India's 2016 demonetization. It runs 229 minutes (with overseas cuts extending to 235), demanding sustained emotional investment from audiences already primed with strong views.

The Line Between Emotion and Overwhelm

Emotional engagement with film isn't inherently harmful. In therapeutic settings, psychologists regularly use films to help patients process difficult emotions, build empathy, or reframe life situations. The APA notes that psychology consultants are increasingly working with Hollywood to improve authentic emotional portrayal on screen.

The challenge arises when emotionally charged content triggers reactions that spill beyond the screen and into relationships. Research from Nature Scientific Reports (2024) found that exposure to politically polarizing media was associated with heightened emotional reactivity that persisted after viewing — particularly in individuals who already held strong political identities.

This is why a four-hour film explicitly designed around national and religious identity can feel destabilizing for some viewers, while energizing for others. Your emotional response is shaped not just by the film, but by your own pre-existing beliefs, stress levels, and sense of personal identity.

Three Signs You May Need to Process Your Reaction

Clinical psychologists identify certain patterns that suggest media consumption has moved from engagement to distress:

1. Post-viewing rumination: If you find yourself replaying scenes or arguments from the film hours later — especially with increasing anger or anxiety — that's a signal worth paying attention to. Healthy engagement processes and moves on; unhealthy rumination spirals.

2. Relationship conflict: When strong reactions from a film translate into arguments with family members, friends, or colleagues who saw it differently, the film has become a proxy for deeper underlying tensions. A conversation with a psychologist can help you separate your own values and fears from the narrative framing a movie imposed on them.

3. Changes in how you see groups of people: Research consistently shows that emotionally compelling films can shift attitudes toward the groups they portray — positively or negatively. If you notice yourself feeling more suspicious of, or hostile toward, an entire community after watching a film, that's a signal to reflect critically on what you absorbed.

What Research Says About Lasting Impact

Here's a counterintuitive finding: most attitude changes produced by a single film viewing do not persist over time, according to studies published in Social Science Quarterly (Wiley Online Library). The initial emotional impact is real, but it fades for most people within days unless reinforced by other experiences or media.

This doesn't mean the emotional experience isn't valid — it is. But it does mean you don't have to act on every feeling a film produces. Giving yourself 24 to 48 hours before discussing a politically charged film with people who hold different views is a reasonable strategy.

When to Talk to a Specialist

If you find that your emotional responses to polarizing media — not just films, but news, social media, and public discourse — are affecting your sleep, your relationships, or your sense of wellbeing, a clinical psychologist can help. Understanding how your identity, values, and emotional history shape your reactions to media is core work in many therapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy and emotion regulation therapy.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge will likely continue to generate debate through its theatrical run and beyond. For most viewers, the intense reactions will pass. For others, it may surface deeper questions about identity, belonging, and how we process difference — questions where professional support can make a genuine difference.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. If you are experiencing significant emotional distress, please consult a qualified mental health professional.