YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has labeled director Aditya Dhar's film Dhurandhar as false propaganda, while its actors describe it as reflecting India's real situation. Starring Ranveer Singh, the movie has earned over Rs 800 crore worldwide but sparked debate over its political messaging.
The film Dhurandhar, depicting an Indian spy infiltrating Pakistan's gangs to dismantle terror networks, has stirred controversy since its release. It draws inspiration from real events like the 1999 IC 814 hijacking, the 2001 Parliament attack, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. In a video, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee stated, "Director of the film Dhurandhar, Aditya Dhar, has made a false claim and tried to spread nonsense propaganda through his film." He added that well-made propaganda films are more dangerous, as Dhurandhar is engaging unlike poor ones such as The Taj Story and The Bengal Files.
Rathee had previously criticized the trailer's violence. The movie uses real 26/11 attack footage and audio recordings of terrorists and handlers, blurring lines between fiction and reality despite a disclaimer. Actor Ankit Sagar, who played Javed Khanani, responded to a line about Indians being each other's biggest enemies, saying, "That was the situation in India at the time. Demonetisation happened... something must have happened." He avoided politics but trusted the director's research.
Actor Danish Pandor, portraying Uzair Baloch, remarked, "You can’t deny 26/11... the voice notes give you goosebumps." He highlighted the film's role in fostering empathy for hostages during the attacks. Earlier, Hrithik Roshan praised the screenplay and action but disagreed with its politics. Starring Ranveer Singh alongside Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sanjay Dutt, the film has grossed nearly Rs 800 crore worldwide in 16 days.
