Saumya Tandon clarifies Dhurandhar controversy saying she wasn’t targeting YRF Spyverse; tweets, 'I'm not taking a jab at anyone'

Dhurandhar continues to spark intense online debate, and this time, Saumya Tandon has stepped in to address criticism aimed at the film’s portrayal of gender dynamics. The actor, who plays a significant role in Aditya Dhar’s blockbuster, found herself responding to a heated discussion after a social media user accused the film, and Bollywood at large, of promoting misogyny and aggressive masculinity.

The now-viral critique targeted male actors and their evolving public personas, stating, "Step 1: be a male actor in Bollywood who is known for being a soft-boy. Step 2: realize you are becoming irrelevant and your female audience is losing interest. Step 3: grow out your beard and hair to look like a mindless caveman with no hygiene so you can cater to the male audience. Step 4: star in a misogynistic movie as a manchild with 0 emotional intelligence… Step 5: promote aggression and misogyny under the name of 'masculinity' and earn crores… Some more such examples: Shahid Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor."

The post triggered strong reactions, including from fans who argued that Dhurandhar did not fit the accusations. One user countered with specific examples, saying, "Both the female leads legit slap men and they don't even react. This woman wouldn't have even watched Dhurandhar but as usual making lame points to play woman card which has no relation with the movie."

Amid the growing back-and-forth, Saumya Tandon offered a detailed response defending the film’s worldbuilding. "Agreed. In the universe Dhurandhar is set in, with the societal norms the director chose to depict, it is a male-dominated world, yet the women are treated with dignity. They aren't beaten, objectified, or shown as one of many wives, even though that society could have allowed it. It's important to remember we're dealing with a very different world."

Her next line, however, drew fresh attention, as many interpreted it as a subtle critique of Yash Raj Films’ glossy Spyverse,
"Sorry that the grain of this story doesn't allow for glamorous heroines singing songs on exotic beaches… That said, as an actor, I do hope I also get opportunities to be part of women-centric narratives."