Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai reviews director Aditya Dhar’s espionage-thriller stalwart (2025). He praised the film for its story, performances, cinematography and costumes.

Ghai wrote in his Instagram post, “Hi Aditya. You deserve many congratulations for bringing this artistic craft of cinema to the commercial platform in Hindi Indian cinema.”

He further added, “I watched the film yesterday and couldn’t stop admiring your understanding of the details of storytelling in the chapters on conflicts, challenges, costuming of the characters, cinematography and believable action, with brilliant performances from even the smallest characters on screen with the world of Pakistani gangs some time ago.”

“It deserves the commercial success it has received and I’m proud of your team stalwart With all my blessings (folding hands emoji) (sic),” the veteran said.

stalwartRanveer Singh plays the role of undercover agent Hamza Ali Mazari. The film also brings together a formidable cast: R Madhavan as Indian spy master Ajay Sanyal, Sanjay Dutt as SP Chaudhary Aslam, Akshaye Khanna as real-life gangster Rehman Dacoit, and Arjun Rampal as ISI Major Iqbal, who is inspired by terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri.

Actress Sara Arjun also debuted with Ranveer in this film. Actors Rakesh Bedi, Manav Gohil, Gaurav Gera, Danish Pandor, Raj Zutshi, Saumya Tandon and others are in lead roles.

India Today, in its review of the film, wrote, “stalwart is a sprawling, powerful, politically incisive thriller that bites a lot, and thanks to Khanna’s explosive talent, successfully chews most of it.

stalwart Co-produced by Aditya Dhar, Lokesh Dhar and Jyoti Deshpande, backed by Jio Studios and B62 Studios.

The spy-thriller is slated to release theatrically on December 5, 2025.