Dhruv Rathee calls Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 'false propaganda', sparks backlash as film nears Rs 800 crore mark

Dhruv Rathee calls Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 'false propaganda', sparks backlash as film nears Rs 800 crore mark

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has stirred a fresh controversy after publicly slamming the Ranveer Singh–starrer Dhurandhar, calling it ‘false propaganda’ and accusing its makers of pushing a politically motivated narrative under the guise of cinema. Dhruv Rathee’s comments came even as the film continues its extraordinary box office run, earning close to Rs 800 crore worldwide within just 16 days of release.

In a nearly 30-minute YouTube video, Dhruv Rathee took direct aim at director Aditya Dhar, alleging that Dhurandhar selectively blends real-life incidents with fictional storytelling to suit a particular ideological lens.

He argued that the film oscillates conveniently between claiming to be fictional and borrowing heavily from real events, which, according to him, misleads audiences.

Dhruv Rathee also criticised the film’s graphic violence, questioning whether such depictions were necessary or simply designed to provoke emotional reactions aligned with a political message.

To underline what he described as this “dichotomy,” he even showcased an AI-generated mock film titled Bhawandar in his video, using it as a satirical tool to argue how easily narratives can be manufactured when facts and fiction are blurred.

However, Dhruv Rathee’s critique did not find much support online. Social media platforms were soon flooded with reactions trolling the YouTuber, with many users accusing him of selectively targeting films that clash with his own ideological views.

Several netizens argued that Dhurandhar never claimed to be a documentary and should be viewed as a cinematic interpretation rather than a historical account. Others pointed to the film’s commercial success as evidence that audiences connected with its emotional core, regardless of political readings.

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The debate around Dhurandhar’s political messaging is not new. Even before Dhruv Rathee’s video, the film had drawn criticism for its portrayal of national security operations and geopolitical tensions. In response, actors from the film have stepped in to defend its intent. Ankit Sagar, who plays Javed Khanani, said the narrative was meant to reflect the atmosphere and decisions prevalent in India at the time. He added that R Madhavan’s character Ajay Sanyal, loosely inspired by Ajit Doval, was not glorified but contextualised.

Danish Pandor, who portrays Uzair Baloch, chose a more measured stance. While he refrained from commenting directly on politics, he stressed that “something must have happened” for such events to unfold, hinting at the film’s grounding in lived realities.

Danish Pandor further emphasised that Dhurandhar’s strongest impact lies in empathy rather than ideology.

Speaking about the 26/11 hostage sequences, he said the portrayal instantly connects viewers to the fear and helplessness of those trapped inside. That emotional immediacy, he argued, is what defines the film more than any political subtext.

Also starring Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and Sanjay Dutt, Dhurandhar remains at the centre of a larger conversation about art, politics and responsibility—one that shows no sign of slowing down as audiences and critics continue to clash over where cinema should draw the line.