As Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge continues its record-breaking run, it has now found itself at the centre of a fresh controversy, this time over its depiction of demonetisation.
Singer-composer Vishal Dadlani has seemingly taken an indirect dig at the film, questioning the accuracy of a key sequence.
What did Vishal Dadlani say?
Without naming the film directly, Dadlani shared two stories on his Instagram account. In the stories, he wrote, “The high percentage of cash return led to widespread analysis that the move failed to permanently eliminate a large portion of ‘black money’ from the economy, as intended.”
Sharing the story, the singer-composer wrote, “In light of the new BS doing the rounds, it's important to remember that...A film is just entertainment. Facts are facts no matter what.”
The remark is widely being interpreted as a response to Dhurandhar 2’s portrayal of demonetisation, which has sparked debate online over its factual accuracy. The film reimagines demonetisation as Operation Green Leaf, which was undertaken to combat fake currency entering India, which would fund terrorist activities.
In another story, Dadlani wrote, “Terror attacks and violence in India continued after the 2016 demonetisation, with major incidents like the 2019 Pulwama attack and ongoing border disturbances. While aimed at curbing terror funding, analysis indicates aggregate terror incidents remained unchanged, showing varied impacts: capital-intensive attacks fell in the Northeast while Left-Wing Extremism areas showed no disruption.”
What is the controversy about?
A particular segment in the film references demonetisation, weaving it into the narrative’s larger political and financial backdrop. However, viewers and critics have pointed out inconsistencies in how the event is depicted, leading to discussions around creative liberty versus factual representation.
Dadlani’s comment has added fuel to the debate, bringing industry attention to the issue. While Dadlani did not explicitly name Dhurandhar 2, the timing of his post, coinciding with the film’s release and ongoing discussions, has made the connection apparent.
Makers yet to respond
As of now, neither the film’s director Aditya Dhar nor lead actor Ranveer Singh have responded to the remarks.
The film continues to perform strongly at the box office despite the controversy. Dhurandhar 2 may be dominating the box office, but conversations around it are no longer just about numbers.
