YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee has reignited controversy around Ranveer Singh’s film Dhurandhar with a fresh video, once again criticising the film and its director, Aditya Dhar. Rathee accused the filmmaker of spreading “misleading propaganda,” sparking renewed debate across social media platforms.
In his latest video, Rathee addressed the backlash to his earlier review, claiming that organised groups were involved in mass-disliking and reporting his content. He shared screenshots from YouTube Studio to highlight what he described as a coordinated attempt to create a false narrative against him. According to Rathee, the criticism extended across platforms such as WhatsApp, Reddit, and X, with several politically affiliated accounts allegedly participating.
Taking a sharp dig at the filmmaker, Rathee referred to Aditya Dhar as a “propagandist” and compared him to Vivek Agnihotri, alleging that Dhurandhar promotes a politically motivated narrative. In response to online trolling, Rathee introduced what he called a “troll tax,” stating that users would need to subscribe to his channel before commenting on the video.
Meanwhile, Dhurandhar actor Naveen Kaushik, who plays the character Donga in the film, responded to Rathee’s remarks during a conversation with SCREEN. While disagreeing with the YouTuber’s views, the actor kept his response brief and measured. “He is an opinionated person. I am associated with the film, so I obviously don’t agree with him. He did get some views because of us, so congratulations to him,” Kaushik said.
Rathee had initially posted a detailed critique of Dhurandhar earlier this week, calling it a “well-made propaganda film.” While acknowledging the film’s technical quality and engaging narrative, he expressed concern over its repeated claims of being inspired by real events. He specifically pointed to the use of real footage and audio from the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, as well as references to real-life gangsters and police officials, arguing that such elements blur the line between fact and fiction.
The debate around the film’s political undertones has also drawn reactions from within the industry. In a previous interview, actor Danish Pandor addressed discussions around the film’s narrative, stating that historical events like the 26/11 attacks cannot be denied and that their depiction evokes strong emotional responses.
Despite the controversy, Dhurandhar continues its strong box office run, setting new records daily. The film features an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, and others. The makers have confirmed that the second part of the film is scheduled for release on March 19.
