Controversy has erupted around the Bollywood spy thriller 'Dhurandhar,' directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer

Singh, with social commentator Dhruv Rathee labeling it as 'false propaganda.' Rathee's criticism centers on the film's

use of real events, particularly the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and its depiction of India-Pakistan relations. Despite a

disclaimer stating its fictional nature, Rathee argues the film's repeated references to real events, including actual

footage and audio recordings from the 26/11 attacks, coupled with characters based on real-life figures, blurs the line

between fiction and reality, making it a potentially dangerous form of propaganda.

'Dhurandhar' portrays the story of an Indian spy operating within Pakistani gangs to dismantle terror networks. The film

has achieved significant commercial success, grossing nearly ₹800 crore worldwide within 16 days of its release.

However, the film's narrative choices have sparked debate about the responsibilities of filmmakers when depicting

sensitive historical events.

Actors involved in the film have responded to the criticism by emphasizing the research that went into the production

and highlighting the realities of the time period depicted. Ankit Sagar, who plays Javed Khanani in the film, addressed

the controversy surrounding a dialogue attributed to a character loosely based on India's NSA chief Ajit Doval, stating

that the portrayal reflected the situation in India at the time. He alluded to events like demonetization and suggested

the film's depiction was rooted in researched realities.

Danish Pandor, who plays Uzair Baloch's cousin in the film, focused on the film's attempt to evoke empathy for the

victims of the 26/11 attacks. He argued that one cannot deny the reality of the attacks and emphasized the emotional

impact of using real audio recordings of the terrorists and their handlers. Pandor highlighted the importance of

empathizing with the hostages' experiences during the attacks.

The film incorporates elements of true events and figures. For example, the character played by Ankit Sagar is based on

ISI's banker Javed Khanani who met a violent end in real-life. Similarly, Uzair Baloch inherited Rehman Dakait’s gang

after his death. These factual touchstones add weight to the fictional narrative, further fueling the debate about the

film's potential to influence public perception.

Rathee's decision to turn off comments on his critique further underscores the divisiveness of the issue. The

controversy surrounding 'Dhurandhar' raises important questions about the ethical considerations of using real-life

events in fictional narratives, the potential for such narratives to be perceived as propaganda, and the responsibility

of filmmakers in shaping public understanding of sensitive historical events. It also highlights the complex

relationship between entertainment, historical representation, and national identity.