Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival

Mumbai | 7 Apr, 2026 | 03:00 PM IST | By DPIFF Editorial Desk
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Bollywood’s Biggest 2025 Split: Why Dhurandhar Sparked Intense Debate

The film has started debates around politics, real events, and its portrayal of countries. Read more to know more.

A Film That Got Everyone Talking

The Bollywood film Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar, has been in the news since its release. It did well at the box office and a lot of people went to watch it, but at the same time, it also became a topic of debate. The story follows an Indian spy sent on a secret mission in Pakistan. It also takes ideas from real events like the 1999 hijacking, the 2001 Parliament attack, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Debate Around How Countries Are Shown

One of the biggest reasons behind the controversy is how the film portrays India and Pakistan. Some viewers felt that India is shown strongly, while Pakistan is shown negatively. Because of this, many people said the film feels one-sided. On the other hand, some people supported the film and said it shows things as they are. This difference in thinking showed mixed reactions from the audience.

Legal Issue Before Release

Before the film was even released, it faced a legal issue. The parents of Major Mohit Sharma, who they believe inspired the main character, went to court. They said their son’s story should not be shown without their permission. They asked to stop the release, but the court did not agree. The film was released as planned, and this situation brought more attention to it.

Scenes That Led to More Reactions

After the release, a few scenes were also questioned. There’s a scene in the second part of the film that was called out by some viewers, who felt it was not respectful to a religious belief. This initiated more conversations online. At the same time, people who spoke against the film also faced strong reactions on social media, which made things more hectic.

Bans in Other Countries

The film was also banned in countries like Pakistan and some of the Middle Eastern nations. The reason was its subject and how certain things were displayed in the story. This again added to the overall discussion around the film.

Still a Big Success

Even with all the controversy, Dhurandhar performed well at the box office. It got a lot of attention and became a film that people had strong opinions about. Some supported it fully, while others criticised it openly.

Conclusion

Dhurandhar became more than just a film. It turned into a topic people kept talking about. Some viewers saw it as a powerful take on real topics, while others felt it should have shown things in a more balanced way.