Kamal Ghorui
‘Dhurandhar’ and ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ have been in the news for several reasons. Ever since the first part released in December 2025, it not only shattered box office numbers, but the film also became a talking point on social media with memes, theories and viral clips. The second installment which released on March 19 this year broke all the records of the first part. Amidst all the numbers, praise and love, the film has also been criticised with many allegedly calling it ‘propaganda’. Now veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar has reacted to it being called a propaganda franchise. Akhtar was spotted in the city as he was honoured with a special award by a jewellery brand. During the event, as he interacted with the media, he was asked about ‘Dhurandhar’ being described as propaganda. As quoted by PTI, Akhtar reacted and said, “I don’t know what you mean by propaganda films. I loved Dhurandhar; it was an excellent film. I liked the first one more than the second.”He further elaborated and said, “Every story takes a stand, but does it become propaganda because the narrative doesn’t suit a section of the audience? Everyone has the right to propagate their ideas. What is wrong with propaganda films? The task of every filmmaker is to present the truth.”He went on to explain that every narrative, even one rooted in fantasy, carries a certain ideology beneath the surface. So, films inevitably convey a message or moral, which audiences may interpret in different ways or label according to their own perspectives. ‘Dhurandhar’ features an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Gaurav Gera, and Danish Pandor.
