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Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi in prominent roles
is expected to cross the Rs 200 crore mark within a week of its release. However, several reports suggest that the film, reportedly inspired by real geopolitical tensions and covert R&AW operations linked to Operation Lyari, a Pakistan-led crackdown on Karachi’s Lyari gangs, has has landed in trouble in Gulf Countries, which have banned it.
Dhurandhar Banned In Gulf Countries
According to a report in Bollywood Hungama, the film, which in four days managed to collect Rs 44.08 crore overseas, could have seen a better run, had the actioner found release in teh Gulf countries or the UAE/ GCC belt. The report cited a source having told them that Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have not released Dhurandhar.
According to the source, there were apprehensions that this would happen as the film is perceived to be anti-Pakistan and in the past such films have failed to get a release approval in the region. The source further said that the team of Dhurandhar attempted to get a release clearance but all the countries did not approve of the film's thematic appraoch and hence it was not released in any of the Gulf countries.
Also Read: Why Dhurandhar Actor Ranveer Singh's Debut Film Band Baaja Baaraat Remains Bollywood’s Most Authentic Work-Life-Romance Story
Dhurandhar Not First Film To Be Banned
However, Dhurandhar is not the first film to be banned in the region. The 2024 Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone starrer Fighter was initially banned across all Gulf countries except the UAE, after its depiction of the Pulwama attack drew criticism in Pakistan for allegedly promoting an “anti-Pakistan” narrative. The UAE suspended the film’s release a day later, and even rejected a re-edited version.
Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force, which released this year and John Abraham’s The Diplomat were banned in multiple Middle Eastern countries for their Pakistan-related content as well.
