Dhruv Rathee Calls Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ “Brain Rot Propaganda”
Dhruv Rathee took a sharp dig at Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ while sharing a video about an AI masterclass he was organising.
The intersection of digital activism and mainstream cinema has sparked a fresh controversy as popular YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee has launched a blistering critique against director Aditya Dhar’s latest blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’. Starring Ranveer Singh in the lead, ‘Dhurandhar 2’ has been dominating the box office since its release, yet it now finds itself at the centre of a heated debate regarding its narrative intent and impact on the audience.
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Dhruv Rathee did not mince words when addressing the spy thriller, labelling the film as “brain rot” and dismissing it as “not even well-made propaganda.” Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he claimed that while he had previously identified director Aditya Dhar as a "propagandist" months ago, this new installment shows a shift toward blatant overconfidence.
“I called Aditya Dhar a BJP propagandist 3 months ago. Now everyone will see it. It was subtle in the previous film, but he went so blatant this time in overconfidence. Remember how I said, well-made propaganda is more dangerous? Ab toh well-made bhi nahi raha. Lol,” Dhruv Rathee remarked, mocking the film.
I called Aditya Dhar a BJP propagandist 3 months ago.
— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) March 19, 2026
Now everyone will see it. It was subtle in the previous film, but he went so blatant this time in overconfidence. Remember how I said, well-made propaganda is more dangerous? Ab toh well-made bhi nahi raha. Lol
The critique extended beyond social media posts into a direct marketing face-off. On Saturday, while promoting an upcoming AI masterclass, Dhruv Rathee framed the choice for his followers as a matter of personal development versus mindless consumption.
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In a video shared with the caption “Rs 500 for a Propaganda Film or Rs 500 for your Future?”, he challenged viewers to consider how they spend their time.
“Doston, iss Sunday aapke pass 2 choices hain,” he said, contrasting the four hours required to watch the “propaganda film” with a three-hour session in his masterclass. He summarised the decision as a choice between “brain rot versus brain building”.
This is not the first time the YouTuber has targeted the ‘Dhurandhar’ franchise. Following the release of the first film last year, Dhruv Rathee published a dedicated video titled ‘Reality of Dhurandhar’, where he slammed the movie for being “jhootha and vahiyat”. Interestingly, at that time, he acknowledged the original film was "well-made," which he argued made it more "dangerous" because its engaging nature could more effectively sell falsehoods to the public. He contrasted it with other films like ‘The Taj Story’ or ‘The Bengal Films’, which he dismissed as "bakwaas" and therefore less threatening.
A core point of Dhruv Rathee’s contention lies in how the franchise blends fiction with real-world tragedies. He pointed out that the films use actual footage from the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, real audio recordings of conversations between terrorists and handlers, and references to major events like the Kandahar plane hijack and the 2001 Parliament Attack.
By setting the story in Lyari, Karachi – a real area known for gang violence – and using characters based on real Pakistan-based gangsters and police, Dhruv Rathee argued that the film falsely presented itself as being “inspired by real events” to gain legitimacy.
Despite these heavy accusations, ‘Dhurandhar 2’ remains a certified commercial juggernaut. Released on March 19, the film has already zoomed past the Rs 450 crore mark in India, receiving a solid box office response and largely positive reviews from the general public. The sequel delves deeper into the Karachi underworld, charting the rise of Ranveer Singh's character, Hamza Ali Mazari. Crucially, it traces his origins back to his identity as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, the young man who eventually becomes a covert operative.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film also features Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi and Sara Arjun.
