Why Is Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar BANNED In GCC - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia And The UAE?

Ranveer

Singh's Dhurandhar has been banned from release in six Gulf countries. The ban applies to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Also starring Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, R Madhavan and Rakesh Bedi in pivotal roles, the Aditya Dhar directorial is doing amazing business domestically. However, the fact that the Middle Eastern countries have banned the film could prove detrimental to its international run. The film’s ban is all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries comes after censorship authorities reportedly objected to its political content and perceived anti-Pakistan messaging.

Why Has Dhurandhar Been Banned In Gulf Countries - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia And The UAE

The controversy surrounding Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar lies in its core narrative which is set against an Indian intelligence operation inside Pakistan, featuring geopolitical themes. Reportedly, authorities in the Gulf, where films are intensely scrutinised for political and cultural sensitivities, reportedly felt the storyline and characterisation could be perceived as offensive – given the region’s close ties with Pakistan and significant expatriate population from South Asia.Also Read: Before Dhurandhar, THESE 7 Films Were BANNED In Gulf Countries

Did Dhurandhar Try To Get A Release Clearance In Gulf Countries?

Reports state that as per industry sources, the film’s producers did try to obtain clearance for theatrical release across the Gulf, recognising the region as crucial overseas Bollywood market. However, all six countries refused certification, considering the film’s thematic position.

What Dhurandhar Ban In Gulf Countries Mean For The Ranveer Singh Film

The ban on Dhurandhar, which has stormed domestic box office has restarted discussions within film and trade circles about the challenges that Indian films with cross-border political themes face in the Middle East. This is not an isolated incident. Earlier this year, John Abraham’s The Diplomat and Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force were both banned in the Gulf Countries citing sensitive geopolitical content.

Earlier, films like Yami Gautam’s Article 370 and Salman Khan’s Tiger 3, too have encountered censorship hurdles or outright bans in parts of the Gulf in recent years.Also Read: Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar Banned In All Gulf Countries? Here's What We Know The ban in itself is a significant setback for Dhurandhar’s overseas revenue potential, which contribute notable box office earnings for Bollywood. Having said that, Dhurandhar has managed to cross the Rs 200-crore net mark in India within its first week,

Where Can Gulf Audience Watch Dhurandhar

For audiences in the Gulf who will not be able to see the Ranveer Singh film on the big screen, Dhurandhar will have a digital release on Netflix, which may allow them to watch it once the theatrical window closes.