Sandeep Reddy Vanga Defends “Dhurandhar” Series Against Propaganda Claims as Director Aditya Dhar Responds

Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga has entered the ongoing debate surrounding the Dhurandhar film duology, strongly defending the Aditya Dhar-directed projects against accusations of propaganda. The controversial espionage films, which released in December 2025 and March 2026 respectively, continue to generate industry discussion months after their debut.

Vanga, known for his unfiltered opinions, recently attended a screening of “Dhurandhar: The Revenge” at Telugu superstar Allu Arjun’s theater in Hyderabad. He was accompanied by actor Prabhas, who is set to star in Vanga’s upcoming directorial venture “Spirit.”

Following the screening, Vanga took to social media platform X to voice his support for the films and criticize those labeling them as propaganda. “Writers & actors built careers on propaganda, and the industry stayed quiet like cats. Now the same clan mock Dhurandhar,” Vanga wrote. “You don’t get to call yourself liberal if your first instinct is to Mock. Don’t know when truth started getting labeled as propaganda…… strange times.”

The filmmaker didn’t stop there, addressing director Aditya Dhar and lead actor Ranveer Singh directly with a message of solidarity: “I want to tell @AdityaDharFilms & @RanveerOfficial yeh kaala drishti aise nahi jaayega… Muthi bhar ke laal mirch se kaam nahi chalega…. poora khet jalana padega.” He concluded by praising the sequel as an “Outstanding film.”

Dhar responded warmly to Vanga’s public support, expressing admiration for his colleague’s conviction. “I genuinely love the way you stand your ground and give it back when it matters. There’s a real honesty and belief in that and it’s something I truly respect,” wrote Dhar. “I’ve always looked up to how you back your cinema without any doubt or noise.”

The exchange highlights the polarizing reception of the Dhurandhar films within the industry. Since their release, the duology has sparked wider conversations about how espionage narratives are portrayed in mainstream Hindi cinema. Many viewers have contrasted Dhurandhar’s reportedly more grounded approach to intelligence operations against the glossier, more stylized treatment seen in competing franchises like Yash Raj Films’ spy universe featuring characters like Tiger and Pathaan.

Industry analysts note that the films’ controversial elements may have contributed to their sustained relevance in public discourse. While some critics dismissed the duology as nationalistic propaganda, others praised it for what they perceived as a more realistic portrayal of espionage work, focusing on the psychological toll and personal sacrifices of intelligence operatives rather than spectacular action sequences.

The Dhurandhar duology represents a significant investment for its producers, with the films reportedly featuring elaborate international shooting schedules across multiple countries. Ranveer Singh’s portrayal of the titular character has been described as a departure from his previous roles, showcasing a more restrained performance style.

This isn’t the first time Vanga has publicly supported the Dhurandhar franchise. In a previous statement, he reportedly described the main character as a “man with a masculine spine,” language consistent with the filmmaker’s often controversial views on masculinity that have sparked debate following his own directorial works.

As streaming platforms prepare to debut the films for digital audiences in the coming months, the controversy shows no signs of abating. The continued discussion among filmmakers, critics, and audiences suggests that beyond their commercial performance, the Dhurandhar films have managed to insert themselves into larger cultural conversations about nationalism, cinema’s political responsibilities, and the evolution of the spy genre in Indian filmmaking.

With filmmakers like Vanga continuing to weigh in on the project, the Dhurandhar duology seems destined to remain a reference point in discussions about contemporary Hindi cinema for the foreseeable future.