The debate around Dhurandhar took an unexpected direction after content creator Dhruv Rathee criticised the Ranveer Singh-led spy thriller, calling it “false propaganda.” His remarks have now drawn a public response from actor Naveen Kaushik, who plays the role of Donga in the film.
Dhruv Rathee recently released a video criticising director Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar. In the video, he accused the film of spreading lies under the cover of entertainment. While his comments triggered strong reactions from fans of the movie, the latest response from someone directly associated with the film has added fuel to the fire.
Dhurandhar Actor Reacts To Dhruv Rathee’s Criticism
In his chat with SCREEN, actor Naveen Kaushik addressed Dhruv Rathee’s viral video and made it clear that he disagreed with the YouTuber’s claims. Naveen (who appears alongside Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna in the film) suggested that Dhruv’s criticism was more about gaining attention than genuine concern.
Speaking about Dhruv’s take on the film, Naveen said, “He is an opinionated person. I am associated with the film, I don’t agree with him obviously.”
He then took a subtle dig at Dhurv Rathee’s intentions and added, “He got some views because of us, congratulations.”
Earlier, actor Devoleena Bhattacharjee had also reacted strongly to Dhruv Rathee’s criticism. Taking to X (Twitter), she wrote, “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).”
What Dhruv Rathee Said About Dhurandhar
Dhruv Rathee’s video, titled Reality of Dhurandhar, accused the film of being “dangerous propaganda.” He argued that the film becomes more harmful because it presents itself as being inspired by real events.
In his video, Dhruv said, “Well-made propaganda is more dangerous. Films like The Taj Story and The Bengal Films were not dangerous, kyunki wo bakwaas films thi (because they were bad films). But Dhurandhar is an engaging film.”
He further added, “The problem is that Dhurandhar repeatedly shows you it’s inspired by real events. It says so in the trailer. It shows the real footage from the 26/11 attacks. The real audio recordings of conversations between the terrorists and their handlers have been used. It also uses real-life gangsters and cops based in Pakistan’s Lyari.”
Dhruv argued that grounding the story in reality makes it more believable than other spy franchises like Pathaan or Tiger, and therefore more impactful on audiences.
Dhurandhar Going Strong At The Box Office
Despite the controversy, Dhurandhar continues to perform strongly at the box office. 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 film has emerged as one of the biggest hits of the year.
Apart from Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, the film features R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi in key roles. Given its success, the makers have already announced a sequel. Dhurandhar Part 2 is scheduled for a theatrical release on March 19, 2026.
