The Bollywood spy thriller Dhurandhar, which has been a box office success, has found itself embroiled in controversy after receiving criticism from YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee, who branded the film "dangerous propaganda". Rathee's video critique has drawn a reaction from Naveen Kaushik, an actor who plays Donga in the movie alongside Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna.
In a recent interview, Kaushik responded to Rathee's accusations, stating, "He is an opinionated person. I am associated with the film, I don't agree with him obviously". He further added, "He got some views because of us, congratulations". Kaushik's remarks suggest that he believes Rathee's criticism, regardless of its intent, has inadvertently benefited the film by generating further attention and discussion.
Rathee's video, titled "Reality of Dhurandhar," accuses the film of pushing "false propaganda" and "selling lies". He argues that Dhurandhar uses real terror attacks, dates, locations, and footage while being labeled as "inspired by real events" to spread a dangerous political narrative. He also criticized the film's excessive violence and gore. Rathee stated that well-made propaganda is more dangerous and that Dhurandhar's engaging nature amplifies its potential harm. He contrasts Dhurandhar with poorly made films, arguing that those are not dangerous because they are obviously bad.
Rathee has also taken aim at director Aditya Dhar, accusing him of being a "BJP sycophant and a propagandist filmmaker," even comparing him to Vivek Agnihotri. Furthermore, Rathee introduced a "troll tax" for those wishing to comment on his video, requiring them to subscribe to his channel.
The debate extends to the film's narrative choices, with Rathee pointing out the inclusion of real footage from the 26/11 attacks and audio recordings of alleged conversations between terrorists and their handlers. He argues that this grounding in reality makes the film more believable but also more dangerous if the narrative is skewed. He also takes issue with the film's portrayal of gangsters, arguing that it glamorizes criminals.
Other voices have also joined the discussion. Actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee criticized Rathee on X, stating she tries to avoid his videos and tweets. Hrithik Roshan has also commented on the film, acknowledging its strong storytelling but expressing disagreement with its political stance.
Despite the controversy, Dhurandhar has achieved significant box office success, crossing ₹500 crore in a span of just 16 days. Some viewers have criticized Rathee's arguments, suggesting that his video is simply providing more publicity for the film. Naveen Kaushik echoed this sentiment, welcoming Rathee's opinion and stating that it has benefited the film.
The controversy surrounding Dhurandhar highlights the ongoing debate about the responsibility of filmmakers and the potential impact of cinema on shaping political narratives. It also raises questions about the line between creative license and the potential for spreading misinformation, particularly when a film claims to be inspired by true events.
