Ranveer Singh's new spy thriller, "Dhurandhar," has reportedly been banned in six Gulf countries due to its perceived anti-Pakistan theme. The film, directed by Aditya Dhar, has been blocked in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Despite this setback in the international market, "Dhurandhar" is performing strongly at the Indian box office, having crossed the ₹200 crore mark within a week of its release.
According to reports, the makers of "Dhurandhar" attempted to secure a theatrical release across the Gulf, a crucial market for Bollywood films, but clearance was denied. A source told Bollywood Hungama that there were apprehensions that this would happen, as the film is perceived as an 'anti-Pakistan film'. The source added that similar films have failed to procure a release in the region in the past.
"Dhurandhar" features Ranveer Singh as an Indian intelligence officer who covertly enters Pakistan and creates ripples across its criminal and political networks. The film's narrative revolves around a mysterious man, Hamza Ali Mazari, who infiltrates the gang of Rehman Dakait in Lyari. The cast includes Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sara Arjun.
The Gulf region is a significant overseas circuit for Bollywood, and the ban is expected to impact the film's international box office collections. Within four days of release, "Dhurandhar" had earned ₹44.08 crore internationally, signaling solid audience interest. However, the ban has cut the film off from one of Bollywood's most dependable overseas markets.
This is not an isolated incident, as several politically sensitive Indian films have faced similar bans in the Gulf region. Recent examples include "Fighter" (2024), which was initially cleared only in the UAE but later suspended, and films like "Bell Bottom", "Satyameva Jayate 2," and "Tiger 3" which faced bans due to Pakistan-related content. These bans often stem from strict guidelines maintained by the Censor Boards in these nations regarding political content involving neighboring countries.
Despite the overseas setback, "Dhurandhar" has been praised for its high-octane action and stellar performances. The film's strong performance in the domestic market suggests it is well on its way to becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year. On its first Thursday (Day 7), the film collected ₹22.08 Cr, bringing its total Week 1 collection to ₹202.33 Cr.
Aditya Dhar, who is best known for directing "Uri: The Surgical Strike," has said that "Dhurandhar's" story comes from real geopolitics and covert RAW missions. The movie is reportedly inspired by events surrounding Operation Lyari in Pakistan and the alleged involvement of Indian intelligence.
