The latest Bollywood spy thriller, Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, has sparked intense debate and political controversy in both India and Pakistan. With its high-octane storyline and dramatized portrayal of India-Pakistan tensions, the film has generated praise, criticism, and widespread discussions about historical accuracy, nationalism, and cinematic representation.

Overview of Dhurandhar

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar is a 3.5-hour-long political espionage drama that plunges viewers into the turbulent world of gangsters, intelligence agents, and cross-border operations. The film’s release comes just months after heightened hostilities between India and Pakistan, following a rebel attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which India attributed to Pakistan—a claim denied by Islamabad.

Set against a sepia-toned visual palette, the film follows Ranveer Singh’s character, an Indian intelligence operative, as he infiltrates networks of “gangsters and terrorists” in Karachi. Featuring an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, and R. Madhavan, Dhurandhar presents a high-stakes cat-and-mouse thriller reminiscent of classic espionage narratives, but heavily influenced by Indian nationalist perspectives.

The Film’s Storyline

At its core, Dhurandhar dramatizes covert operations of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). The plot centers on Singh’s character as he undertakes dangerous missions in Pakistan to neutralize threats to Indian national security. The antagonist, portrayed by Sanjay Dutt, represents Pakistan’s intelligence establishment, while Akshaye Khanna plays a notorious gangster entwined in the geopolitical web.

Critics note that the screenplay follows a conventional thriller trajectory but embeds elements of hyper-nationalism, often merging fictionalized violence with real historical references. While the film attempts to showcase intelligence operations authentically, several observers argue that the portrayal exaggerates cross-border hostilities and distorts historical facts.

Controversy in Pakistan

Despite the popularity of Indian cinema in Pakistan, Dhurandhar has been widely criticized there. The film’s depiction of Karachi, particularly the Lyari neighborhood, has drawn harsh backlash for misrepresenting the city’s culture, infrastructure, and history. Nida Kirmani, a sociology professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences, emphasized that the film “reduces Karachi to violence” and misframes local gangs within the context of India-Pakistan geopolitics—an inaccurate portrayal of Lyari’s criminal dynamics, which have historically remained local.

Moreover, members of Pakistan’s political sphere have protested the unauthorized depiction of historical figures, such as the late former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, claiming the film inaccurately linked her and other party leaders to terrorism. These controversies highlight the tensions around cinematic representation of historical events in politically sensitive regions.

Reception in India

In India, Dhurandhar has achieved commercial success and has been positively received by audiences, particularly for Ranveer Singh’s performance and the film’s thrilling narrative. However, the film has not escaped criticism. Families of real-life figures, such as Major Mohit Sharma, have challenged the use of his life story without consent, alleging that the film exploits his legacy.

Critics also highlight that while the film presents itself as fiction, it includes news footage and intercepted audio recordings, blurring the line between dramatization and reality. This trend reflects a growing tendency in Bollywood to produce films aligned with nationalist narratives, sometimes at the expense of historical accuracy.

Emerging Patterns in Bollywood

Film analysts point out that Dhurandhar is part of a broader trend in Bollywood emphasizing hyper-nationalistic storytelling. Recent films, including Kerala Story and Article 370, have faced criticism for distorting facts and portraying Muslims negatively, a pattern some argue aligns with the political agenda of India’s ruling party under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Experts warn that this approach marginalizes minority communities and simplifies complex socio-political realities into binary “hero vs. villain” narratives. In the case of Dhurandhar, online harassment of critics and coordinated efforts to suppress dissenting reviews have further fueled debates about censorship, media influence, and the ethics of political cinema.

Conclusion

Dhurandhar exemplifies how Bollywood films can ignite controversy by blending action, espionage, and political messaging. While audiences enjoy thrilling narratives and charismatic performances, the film has drawn scrutiny for misrepresenting history, fostering hyper-nationalism, and perpetuating stereotypes about neighboring countries. As India and Pakistan continue to navigate complex geopolitical relationships, cinema remains both a reflection of and a catalyst for broader political discussions in the region.