MUMBAI: Ranveer Singh’s new spy thriller Dhurandhar may be pulling large crowds in India, but its international run has stumbled, particularly in the Middle East.
The film has been barred from release in six Gulf countries — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE — after authorities reportedly objected to its perceived anti-Pakistan narrative.
The sweeping ban has reignited debate on the heightened scrutiny faced by Indian films that explore cross-border and geopolitical themes.
According to industry reports, the makers approached regulators across the Gulf — a key overseas market for Bollywood — but the film was denied clearance in all six nations.
“There were apprehensions that this would happen as the film is perceived as an ‘anti-Pakistan film’. The team still made an attempt, but none of the countries approved the film’s theme. That’s why Dhurandhar hasn’t been released in any Gulf territory,” a source said.
This is not without precedent. Films such as Fighter, Sky Force, The Diplomat, Article 370, Tiger 3 and The Kashmir Files have all faced partial or full restrictions in the Middle East. Fighter, which did make it to UAE screens initially, was withdrawn within a day, and a revised version failed to secure approval.
Despite the Gulf setback, Dhurandhar continues its strong run in domestic theatres. The film has crossed the ₹200-crore net mark in India within a week, and collected ₹44.5 crore overseas, excluding the Gulf market.
The film marks director Aditya Dhar’s return after six years, following his 2019 success Uri: The Surgical Strike. Speculation had swirled about the film being based on Major Mohit Sharma, but Dhar clarified that it draws from real geopolitical events and covert R&AW missions.
Inspired by operations linked to Karachi’s Lyari region and alleged intelligence activity in Pakistan, Dhurandhar features an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal alongside Ranveer Singh. Backed by strong word of mouth and its real-world backdrop, the film is steadily emerging as one of the year’s biggest box-office hits.
