Did Aditya Dhar take a jibe at Youtuber Dhurv Rathee for calling Dhurandhar ‘Propaganda’?

A fierce debate has erupted around the blockbuster spy thriller Dhurandhar, as prominent YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee labelled the Ranveer Singh-starrer a piece of “dangerous propaganda” in a recent video that has since gone viral.

Dhruv Rathee’s critique has reignited discussions about cinematic representation, creative freedom and political messaging in Bollywood.

In his latest video titled “Reality of Dhurandhar,” Dhruv Rathee criticised director Aditya Dhar, accusing him of blending fiction with real events in a way that promotes a one-sided narrative. He argued that the film’s use of real footage — including scenes and audio from the 26/11 Mumbai attacks — makes it ‘more dangerous than other films’ because audiences might take it as factual rather than dramatized storytelling.

Now, it appears filmmaker Aditya Dhar has hit back at the criticism with a cryptic note. Aditya did not directly respond to Dhruv Rathee’s comments. However, by resharing a note about a “video maker who tried to criticize” the film, he seemed to make a subtle jab at the YouTuber.

The note which Aditya Dhar re-posted on his Instagram Stories read, “History is being rewritten in Indian cinema. By men & women who have fire in their hearts & love for their country. They wanted to tell a story to their country people. The best part of the boxoffice success of #Dhurandhar is that its organic.”

“All those crying "corporate bookings" in the week of release have suddenly become silent now. A video maker tried to criticise it recently & got swept away by a wave of criticism against him. Dhurandhar is a craze today. A tsunami which will sweep away any other release in its path. A tsunami which will roll into 2026. It is not going to stop soon,” the note added.

The note further stated, “A tsunami created by a young director from Delhi, @adityadharfilms and his team of actors & technicians. All united in vision & approach, positive in thought, passionate about storytelling and immense confidence in this director's work. @ranveersingh @actormaddy @rampal72 #AkshayeKhanna #EkMuthhiSauHaath… These names must be added today. They are equally vital. Each equally contributing to the success of #Dhurandhar @saraarjunn @therakeshbedi @gauravgera @danishpandor @manavgohil #JyotiDespande.”

Dhruv Rathee’s video has sparked a mixed reaction online. Supporters of the critique argue that conflating entertainment with real political history warrants scrutiny.

At the same time, many fans and industry observers contend that Dhurandhar is a work of fiction inspired by real events and should be viewed primarily as entertainment.

Despite the controversy, Dhurandhar continues to perform strongly at cinemas, attracting widespread audience attention and commercial success.

Also read: Dhurandhar director Aditya Dhar thanks director Ram Gopal Varma calls the film a “Quantum Leap in Indian Cinema”, writes 'finally feels seen'

The film’s blend of high-octane action, a star-studded cast and references to real-world events has kept it at the centre of conversations not just about cinema but also about how films intersect with cultural and political narratives.