Let’s call it what it is.

A two-decade old franchise like Dhamaal shouldn’t be running away from a film that released four days ago. Four. Days. And yet, that’s exactly what happened. The makers quietly shifted the date, hoping no one would question why.

But people are questioning it, because the answer is obvious.

They know the film is weak.
They know the audience won’t turn up.
They know Dhurandhar has more buzz in four days than Dhamaal managed with twenty years of goodwill.

This is not “smart planning.”
This is an escape route.

And at the centre of all this stands Ajay Devgn.

Fans still call him a “superstar.” They defend his choices. They hype his promos. They show up for his mass scenes even when the films don’t deserve it.

But the real question is simple:
Why does Ajay Devgn keep making films even he knows won’t work?

Because that’s what this looks like a man fully aware that the product is mediocre but still going ahead because the economics will save him anyway.

Satellite rights + OTT + brand tie-ins + controlled budget = profit.
Who cares about audience satisfaction, right?

Is this superstardom?
Or is this just business?

Because the audience can see the difference.

Where’s the fire? Where’s the ambition? Where’s the hunger?

Earlier in his career, Ajay Devgn took risks. Big ones. He delivered films like Zakhm, Company, Omkara, Rajneeti, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai. Those films had conviction, identity, and a certain artistic courage.

Today?

It feels like he’s on autopilot.
Turn up. Do the job. Maintain the look. Collect the cheque. Move on.

The sad part is even his fans feel it. They may not say it loudly, but they can sense the lack of effort. The missing spark. The disinterest.

Superstars aren’t supposed to sleepwalk through films.
Superstars aren’t supposed to hide behind “we shifted the release for better dates.”
Superstars aren’t supposed to run from a four-day old film.

The Dhamaal decision exposes a deeper problem

If the Dhamaal team really believed in the film, they would have faced any clash confidently. Franchises don’t collapse because of competition, they collapse because the content is stale.

And right now, Ajay Devgn seems comfortable delivering “good enough” films instead of “great” films.

You can’t keep saying “legacy” and then choose scripts that look like they’re written on autopilot.

You can’t call yourself a “mass hero” and then be scared of a new release outperforming you.

And you definitely can’t expect loyalty from fans if you don’t respect their expectations.

At some point, Ajay Devgn needs to look in the mirror

Fans are loyal, yes. But they’re not blind. They’re tired of excuse-filled promotions, formulaic films, and this habit of hiding behind safe release strategies.

A superstar’s job isn’t just to earn money.
It’s to entertain.
To challenge himself.
To evolve.
To honour the very legacy people keep talking about.

Right now, Ajay Devgn isn’t doing any of that.

He looks like someone who’s playing it safe, film after film, hoping nobody notices the pattern.

News flash: everyone has noticed.

Final Word

The Dhamaal retreat from Dhurandhar says one thing clearly, the makers don’t believe in what they’ve made. And the audience won’t either.

If Ajay Devgn wants to be remembered as a superstar, he needs to start acting like one again. Not just posing like one. Not just cashing cheques like one.

Because superstardom isn’t about avoiding clashes.
It’s about making films that don’t need to run.