Popular YouTuber Labels “Dhurandhar” as “Dangerous Propaganda” Despite Box Office Success

Popular content creator and political commentator Dhruv Rathee has sparked controversy with a scathing critique of the hit film “Dhurandhar,” calling it “dangerous propaganda” in a video released Saturday evening on his YouTube channel.

In the video titled “Reality of Dhurandhar,” Rathee lambasts director Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller for what he describes as “jhootha and vahiyat” (lies and falsehoods) propaganda. Despite acknowledging the film’s production quality, Rathee argues this actually makes it more problematic.

“Well-made propaganda is more dangerous,” Rathee states in his analysis. “Films like The Taj Story and The Bengal Files were not dangerous because they were bad films. But Dhurandhar is an engaging film.”

The content creator takes particular issue with the film’s blending of fiction with real-world events. “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,” Rathee explains.

He further notes that the film incorporates characters based on real-life gangsters and law enforcement officials from Pakistan’s Lyari region, making it appear more grounded in reality than conventional spy thrillers like the “Pathaan” or “Tiger” franchises.

Prior to releasing the video, Rathee had promised to “destroy” the film in a promotional tweet. So far, neither director Aditya Dhar nor anyone from the production team has responded to these allegations.

This isn’t the first time Rathee has criticized “Dhurandhar.” Earlier, he had expressed concerns about the film’s violent and graphic content on social media, setting the stage for this more comprehensive critique.

Despite the controversy, “Dhurandhar” continues to dominate at the box office. The film, which stars Ranveer Singh alongside industry veterans Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sanjay Dutt, has amassed nearly ₹800 crore (approximately $100 million) worldwide in just 16 days since its release.

The film tells the story of an Indian intelligence operative who infiltrates Pakistan-based criminal organizations to dismantle terrorist networks from within. Its commercial success suggests that audiences have been drawn to its high-octane narrative regardless of the political debates surrounding it.

The clash between “Dhurandhar’s” commercial success and Rathee’s criticism highlights the ongoing tension in Indian cinema between entertainment value and political messaging. With his substantial following across social media platforms, Rathee’s commentary may influence public discourse about the film, even as it continues to attract viewers.

This controversy comes amid a broader trend of politically charged films in Bollywood, with titles like “The Taj Story” and “The Bengal Files” (referenced in Rathee’s critique) similarly sparking debates about the intersection of entertainment, history, and political narrative in Indian cinema.

As “Dhurandhar” continues its theatrical run, the question remains whether Rathee’s critique will impact its commercial trajectory or spark a more nuanced conversation about representation and responsibility in Indian filmmaking.