Kamal Ghorui
Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar’ sequel, released in December, has surpassed Rs 1,000 crore in just nine days, fueling its relentless box-office storm with sold-out screenings nationwide. In the whirlwind of excitement, Bollywood stars like Aamir Khan and Boman Irani reveal they haven’t seen it yet. Dia Mirza, on the other hand, speaks up boldly: “There is a trend to enjoy and celebrate jingoism.”
Dia Mirza on ‘IC 814 ’ criticism
Dia recently opened up on The Namrata Zakaria Show about the criticism her IC 814 team endured for their Kandahar hijack series. ‘Dhurandhar’ got tagged as a “chest thumping film,” while IC 814 faced heat for taking a different path. She shared, “The show was called out for humanising all the characters, including the terrorists. I guess it is because we are celebrating jingoism too much now. We adore it. There is a trend to enjoy and celebrate jingoism, which our show is not. I don’t regret it. It has such a balanced view and gives people the opportunity to see each side the way it was.”
Dia Mirza urges artists to speak up
As industry voices hold back on the film, Dia highlighted why artists must raise their voices. “I think it is very important to be vocal as artistes. I am a big Shabana Azmi bhakt, and I follow her message that if art is not utilised to improve the lives of others, then what is the point of art. So yes, I am political, and I have a stand. And yes, I will convey that through the choices I make in the stories I tell.”Dia also recognized the toll of taking these positions, “It is not easy. We are trolled regularly. Beyond that, there is all kinds of intimidation because if you are not towing the line and not in agreement with what larger forces expect, then it is not easy.”
Bollywood goes silent after ‘Dhurandhar 2 ’
On December 5, Dhurandhar’s release sparked cheers from Bollywood celebs on X. Hrithik Roshan hailed its epic scope, despite political differences. But since Dhurandhar 2 arrived on March 19, he and most others have stayed mum.
South stars praise ‘Dhurandhar’, others call it propaganda
South Indian film stars have led the recent applause, with Allu Arjun, Jr NTR, and Mahesh Babu cheering the movie and its actors. Filmmakers Ram Gopal Varma and SS Rajamouli echoed the praise. On the flip side, Prakash Raj and Divya Spandana condemned it as “propaganda” and “jingoistic.”
