- By Sidhi Agarwall
- Wed, 24 Dec 2025 09:37 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Dhurandhar: Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller Dhurandhar has been making headlines ever since it was released in theatres. Along with strong box office numbers, the film has sparked heated discussions outside cinema halls as well. While many viewers have praised the gripping story and performances, the film has also faced criticism from political commentator Dhruv Rathee, who recently called it propaganda. As the debate continues, actor Naveen Kaushik, who plays the character Donga in the film, has reacted to Rathee’s comments and clearly stated that he does not agree with the YouTuber’s views.
On Saturday, Dhruv Rathee uploaded a video on his YouTube channel titled Reality of Dhurandhar. In the video, he strongly criticised the film and described it as ‘dangerous propaganda’ based on lies. Earlier too, Rathee had shared posts on social media questioning the film’s violence and graphic scenes. In his video, Rathee said that the main issue with Dhurandhar is that it repeatedly claims to be inspired by real events. He pointed out that the trailer mentions this clearly and also includes real footage from the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. According to him, the film uses actual audio recordings of conversations between terrorists and their handlers, as well as characters inspired by real-life gangsters and police officers from Pakistan’s Lyari area. Rathee added that because the film is rooted in real incidents, it feels more believable than other spy thrillers like Pathaan or Tiger. However, he accused director Aditya Dhar of selling false narratives through cinema, calling the film ‘jhootha aur vahiyat propaganda’. He also claimed that well-made propaganda can be more harmful than poorly made films.
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Following the release of Dhruv Rathee’s video, several reactions surfaced online, including from members of the film industry. Naveen Kaushik addressed the issue during an interview and dismissed Rathee’s remarks. The Dhurandhar actor said that Rathee is entitled to his opinion but made it clear that he does not agree with him. “He is an opinionated person. I am associated with the film, so obviously I don’t agree with him,” Naveen said. He further added that Rathee benefited from the film’s popularity, saying, “He got some views because of us, congratulations.” Earlier, actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee had also criticised Rathee on social media, asking him to stop talking about Dhurandhar.
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Also Read: Akshaye Khanna Quits Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam 3 Over Fee Issue After Dhurandhar’s Success?
Dhurandhar Box Office Update
Despite the ongoing debates, Dhurandhar continues to perform well at the box office. As per trade website Sacnilk, the film has earned around Rs 589.50 crore in India so far. Released on December 5, the film stars Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal in key roles. The makers have already announced a sequel, which is scheduled to release in theatres on March 19, 2026.