‘Dhurandhar’ Actor Naveen Kaushik Slams Dhruv Rathee For Calling Film “Propaganda”
‘Dhurandhar’ actor Naveen Kaushik called out Dhruv Rathee for his “false propaganda” claim, as the spy thriller’s political debate intensifies alongside its massive box office success.
The box office juggernaut ‘Dhurandhar’ continues to dominate headlines, not just for its record-breaking collections, but for the polarizing debate it has ignited. After popular YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee released a scathing critique labelling the film “false propaganda,” actor Naveen Kaushik has come forward to defend the spy thriller. Naveen Kaushik, who portrays the character Donga alongside Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna in the movie, addressed the controversy in a recent interview with SCREEN.
Dismissing Dhruv Rathee’s claims, Naveen Kaushik suggested the YouTuber is simply riding the film's wave of success.
“He is an opinionated person. I am associated with the film, I don’t agree with him obviously,” Naveen Kaushik stated. He further took a dig at the video’s reach, adding, “He got some views because of us, congratulations.”
Naveen Kaushik isn't the only one upset with Dhruv Rathee’s commentary. Television actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee took to X (formerly Twitter) to slam the YouTuber in a heated post. She urged Dhruv Rathee to “stop thinking about Dhurandhar,” calling his content "sh**ty" and questioning why it appeared on her feed.
In his video titled ‘Reality of Dhurandhar’, Dhruv Rathee branded the Aditya Dhar directorial as “jhootha and vahiyat” (false and disgusting) propaganda. Interestingly, the YouTuber noted that the film is more “dangerous” than previous controversial films like ‘The Taj Story’ or ‘The Bengal Films’ because it is actually well-made and engaging.
Dhruv Rathee’s main points of contention included the blur of fiction and reality. The film uses real 26/11 footage and actual audio recordings of terrorist handlers. By incorporating real-life gangsters and Pakistan’s Lyari-based cops, Dhruv Rathee argued the film made its “lies” more believable than fantastical spy movies like ‘Pathaan’ or ‘Tiger’. He had previously slammed the film for excessive gore.
The film’s political stance was also questioned by Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan. Responding to those concerns, Danish Pandor told India TV that the film is rooted in deep research. He emphasized that the inclusion of 26/11 elements – like the voice notes of handlers – was intended to show the disheartening reality of the attacks rather than push an agenda.
Despite the online storm, the audience seems to be voting with their wallets. ‘Dhurandhar’ has been a massive hit, raking in an estimated Rs 589.50 crore in India according to Sacnilk.
The film boasts a high-octane ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi. Fans won't have to wait long for the story to continue; the second installment of the franchise is already locked for a theatrical release on March 19, 2026.
