But not everyone sees it as just fiction.
The Big Legal Storm: Real Hero vs. Fictional Spy
Almost immediately after the trailer dropped, speculation soared that the lead character loosely mirrored the life of Major Mohit Sharma — the Ashoka Chakra–awarded operative who conducted deep undercover work in Kashmir and died in 2009. The resemblance: a soldier turned undercover agent, deceit as identity, and counter-terror ops. Major Sharma’s family, led by his brother, filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, accusing the filmmakers of exploiting his memory without consent, demanding a stay on the film’s release.
The result: a full-scale re-examination by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and a courtroom spotlight brighter than any spotlight on the set. The board concluded that Dhurandhar is “purely fictional,” and bears no resemblance to Major Sharma’s life or operations. They cleared it for release after applying standard cuts, issuing an adult certificate.
The director publicly reaffirmed this, promising that any real-life biopic of Major Sharma — if it ever happens — would be made with sensitivity and family consent.
Still, the dust hasn’t settled. For many, the moral question remains: Does a disclaimer erase responsibility when you borrow from real hero myths to craft your fiction?
Additional Flame: Culture & Controversy
When you sign up to play a “hard agent,” you expect guns and grenades — not cultural flashpoints. But Dhurandhar’s lead actor, Ranveer Singh, recently stepped into another firestorm: at a recent film festival, during a tribute to another film, he mimicked a ritualistic performance from a regional movie. The act angered many cultural custodians and community members, who saw it as disrespect toward a sacred tradition. A police complaint followed, and though Ranveer apologised, the controversy added another unpredictable variable to Dhurandhar’s pre-release mix.
When your hero’s costume includes public gaffes, sometimes the PR spin needs more than bulletproof vests.
What Dhurandhar Has Going For It
Box-office buzz: Despite controversies, advance ticket bookings reportedly crossed impressive numbers — signalling that curiosity (or fandom) hasn’t died yet.
High production scale: The film reportedly runs 214 minutes, making it one of the longest Hindi films in decades. It promises an epic canvas: multiple protagonists, sprawling story arcs, high-stakes conflicts, and cinematic ambition.
Star cast & action pedigree: With Ranveer Singh’s intensity, combined with a supporting ensemble and a gritty spy-narrative, the film could land as a “commercial-thriller with substance,” if the balance holds.
But the Shadows Are Deep
Ethical minefields: Using elements evocative of real martyrs or real events, even indirectly, can trigger pain, outrage, and legal complications. The rapid escalation from speculation to legal petitions illustrates how sensitive real-life inspirations have become.
Tone risk: Early viewers — social media commentators and a few critics — argue the film’s trailer already feels loud, chaotic, and dangerously close to “sensationalism disguised as realism.” One critic compared some sequences to disturbing real-world footage rather than cinematic drama.
Spectacle vs. Substance: 214 minutes is a gamble. A bloated runtime demands a narrative that justifies every minute. If the film fails to weave emotional depth with action, its ambition may needlessly weigh it down.
Public sentiment volatility: With the film already riding two controversies — the martyr connection and the cultural mimicry — even small missteps (dialogue, portrayal, marketing) could provoke huge backlash. The spotlight is merciless.
Why This Entire Saga Matters (Beyond Just One Movie)
In 2025, Dhurandhar isn’t just a film — it’s a debate.
About art vs. responsibility: Can filmmakers fictionalise lives that evoke national memory without reopening wounds?
About celebrity & accountability: In the age of instant virality, every tribute, every gesture — even mimicry — can unravel a carefully built narrative.
About genre evolution: Bollywood’s spy-thriller ambitions now compete with global standards. High runtime, multiple protagonists, mature certification, complex plot arcs — if Dhurandhar delivers, it could raise the bar. If not, it might reinforce the cynics’ warnings about “loud Indian cinema.”
In other words, this isn’t just a test for Dhurandhar. It’s a test for Bollywood itself.
What’s Next: Eyes on Release Day (December 5)
When Dhurandharfinally hits the screens, all eyes will be on:
Audience reaction: Will people buy tickets en masse — or will controversy push them away?
Word of Mouth: Will viewers feel the film earned its runtime and audacity — or will they call it overcooked?
Social media backlash/praise: Every scene, every dialogue will be dissected.
Box office vs. backlash: Can commercial success withstand the moral and cultural turbulence surrounding the film?
If the film survives the opening weekend unscathed — maybe even thrives — it may rewrite what “big Hindi spy drama” means in 2025. If it stumbles, it could become the cautionary tale that underscores how risky it is to trade on memory, martyrdom, and machismo.
PNN Entertainment
