Ever since Aditya Dhars Dhurandhar hit the theatres it has been creating a buzz; not only has it been dominating the box office numbers but it has also become the biggest talking point. Besides getting huge appreciation for its gripping storyline and impeccable performance by the actor the film has also found itself at the centre of debates that extend far beyond the cinema hall. A while ago political commentator Dhruv Rathee also sharply criticised the film and called it propaganda in his video. As the film continues its strong theatrical run Rathee’s video critique has triggered reactions from both the industry and the cast. Dhruv Rathee Calls the Film ‘Dangerous Propaganda’ On Saturday Dhruv Rathee released a video on his channel titled Reality of Dhurandhar. In the video he has slammed the film for what he described as “dangerous propaganda” built on lies. He earlier took to social media to criticise the film for its excessive violence and gore. In the video Rathee said that the problem with Dhurandhar is that it repeatedly claims to be inspired by real events. He pointed out that the trailer explicitly states this and includes real footage from the 26/11 attacks along with actual audio recordings of conversations between terrorists and their handlers. He also noted that the film uses real-life gangsters and cops based in Pakistan’s Lyari. Rathee further stated that grounding the story in reality made it “more believable than any other spy thrillers such as Pathaan or Tiger films.” However he went on to label the film “jhootha and vahiyat propaganda (lies and falsehoods)” accusing director Aditya Dhar of trying to sell lies through cinema. In his words “Well-made propaganda is more dangerous. Films like The Taj Story and The Bengal Files were not dangerous kyunki wo bakwaas films thi (because they were bad films). But Dhurandhar is an engaging film.” Naveen Kaushik Fires Back on Dhruv Rathee As soon as his video was posted it was quick to get reactions. Actor Naveen Kaushik who plays Donga in the film alongside Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna also reacted to his video. In an interview Naveen accused Rathee of attempting to cash in on the film’s success for views. Reacting to the video he said “He is an opinionated person. I am associated with the film I don’t agree with him obviously.” He added “He got some views because of us congratulations.” Devoleena Bhattacharjee Also Slams Dhruv Rathee Earlier actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee also slammed Dhruv Rathee through a post on X (formerly Twitter) writing “I so try to avoid & ignore your sh**ty videos & tweets. Dunno why X got it on my feedback. Anyways. Dhurandhar ke baarein mein sochna bandh kar (Stop thinking about Dhurandhar).” Dhurandhar’s Box Office Success Despite the debates and criticism Dhurandhar continues to enjoy a successful box office run. According to trade website Sacnilk the film has collected an estimated Rs 589.50 crore in India so far. Released in theatres on December 5 the spy action thriller also stars R. Madhavan Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal in key roles with Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi in pivotal parts. The second part of the film is scheduled for a theatrical release on March 19 2026.