Argus News - Dhurandhar: The Revenge Hate or Hype? Actors Fire Back as Dhruv Rathee Slams Film

Mumbai, Mar 24: The debate surrounding 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' has intensified after political commentator Dhruv Rathee criticised the film, drawing sharp reactions from actors associated with the project.

While one actor sarcastically credited Rathee for boosting the film’s visibility, another criticised his remarks, as the controversy around the film’s content and messaging widened.

Actor Vivek Sinha Thanks Rathee for ‘Promotion’

Actor Vivek Sinha said Rathee’s critical video helped bring attention to the film.

“I really liked Dhruv Rathee. I’d like to say thank you to him for the video he posted,” Sinha said in an interview with Radio Mirchi, adding that many viewers expressed interest in watching the film after seeing the review.


He described the response as “strong free promotion.”

Sinha plays Zahoor Mistry, a key antagonist linked to the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, whose actions drive the film’s central conflict.

Naveen Kaushik Calls for Balanced Discourse

Actor Naveen Kaushik responded to the criticism by urging restraint in public reactions.

Speaking on a podcast with Hindi Rush, Kaushik said it is difficult to separate cinema from politics, as “every aspect of life” contains elements of political thought.

Also Read: Raj Arjun Reveals How Daughter Sara became his ‘Dhurandhar’ During Struggles

He argued that labelling a film as propaganda often depends on individual interpretation rather than an absolute standard.


“Everyone has the right to express their opinion… but a film should not become a source of hate or violence,” he said, appealing for constructive engagement.

Dhruv Rathee Labels Film ‘Dangerous Propaganda’

The controversy began after Dhruv Rathee had criticised 'Dhurandhar' on social media and in a video titled “Reality of Dhurandhar.”

He had described the film as “brain rot” and “dangerous propaganda,” alleging that it presents distorted narratives while claiming to be inspired by real events.

I called Aditya Dhar a BJP propagandist 3 months ago.

Now everyone will see it. It was subtle in the previous film, but he went so blatant this time in overconfidence. Remember how I said, well-made propaganda is more dangerous? Ab toh well-made bhi nahi raha. Lol

— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) March 19, 2026

Rathee also pointed to the use of real footage from the 26/11 attacks and references to real-life figures, arguing that this made the narrative more influential.

Box Office Remains Strong Despite Dip

Despite the debate, the Aditya Dhar directorial, starring Ranveer Singh, continues to perform strongly at the box office.

Also Read: Supreme Court Lawyer Terms 'Dhurandhar' as Lived Reality, Says 'I've Heard Bullets, Seen Dead Bodies'

The film collected Rs 65 crore net on Day 5 (March 23), taking its domestic total to Rs 519.12 crore. This marked a 43.4% drop from the previous day’s Rs 114.85 crore.

The film recorded an overall occupancy of 48.44%, with higher turnout during evening and night shows.

Worldwide, the film’s total gross collection has reached Rs 829.76 crore within six days, including preview shows.

Industry Praise Continues

The film has also received praise from Rajinikanth, who described it as “box office ka baap” in a post on X, congratulating the cast and crew.

What a film … #Dhurandhar2‌ !!! Aditya Dhar 🫡 box office -ka baap !!! Many congratulations to Ranveer and the entire cast and crew. A must watch film for every indian. Jai hind 🇮🇳 @AdityaDharFilms @RanveerOfficial

— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) March 23, 2026

The film features an ensemble cast including Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan and others.