Dhurandhar Faces Ban in Six Gulf Nations Over Controversial Theme

The new spy thriller Dhurandhar, featuring Indian actor Ranveer Singh, has encountered significant challenges in its international release, especially in the Gulf region. Authorities in six Gulf countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—have imposed a ban on the film, citing concerns over its anti-Pakistan narrative.

Despite Dhurandhar's success in India, where it surpassed the ₹200 crore net mark within a week, its journey abroad has stalled as it failed to secure approval for screening in the Gulf, a vital market for Bollywood films. Reports indicate that the film's production team had anticipated potential issues due to its themes but proceeded to seek theatrical releases nonetheless.

A source familiar with the situation informed Bollywood Hungama, "There were apprehensions that this would happen as the film is perceived as an 'anti-Pakistan film'. The team still made an attempt, but none of the countries approved the film's theme. That's why Dhurandhar hasn't been released in any Gulf territory."

This prohibition is not without precedent; several Indian films tackling sensitive cross-border issues have faced similar restrictions in the Gulf. Titles such as Fighter, Sky Force, The Diplomat, Article 370, Tiger 3, and The Kashmir Files have all encountered hurdles in these markets. Notably, Fighter was initially released in the UAE but was withdrawn within a day after being deemed inappropriate.

Director Aditya Dhar, who has returned to filmmaking after a six-year hiatus since his acclaimed 2019 film Uri: The Surgical Strike, has been vocal about the film's intentions. He asserts that Dhurandhar is not intended to be anti-Pakistan but rather anti-terrorism. In his words, "I personally know families of martyred soldiers. When their bodies are brought back, I’ve seen the grief. It is indescribable. People making insensitive comments on social media have never experienced the hurt and the grief."

Dhurandhar is inspired by real events, specifically Operation Lyari in Pakistan, and the involvement of Indian intelligence agencies. The film features a notable cast including Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal, and has been well-received domestically, thanks to strong word-of-mouth and its geopolitical themes.

The debate surrounding the film's release reflects broader issues of censorship and the scrutiny that Indian cinema faces when addressing contentious topics related to national security and cross-border relations. As the industry navigates these challenges, the implications of such bans on cultural exchange and artistic expression remain a subject of ongoing discussion.