Biggest Indian Film Industry Controversies Of March 2026 That Left Everyone Talking
From Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar 2’ propaganda row to Nora Fatehi’s song backlash and the Dharmendra 2026 Oscar snub, explore the biggest Indian film industry controversies of March 2026.
March 2026 turned into a noisy, chaotic month for the Indian film industry, with controversies erupting across Bollywood and beyond. From propaganda allegations and religion-linked objections to censorship demands, lyric complaints, trolling storms and social media backlash, the month saw stars, filmmakers, and musicians repeatedly dragged into heated public debates. As ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ shattered box office records, it simultaneously became the lightning rod for the month's most heated discussions. Some rows stayed online, while others quickly spilled into legal notices, official complaints and public clarifications.
Here’s a crisp look at the biggest Indian film industry controversies that dominated headlines in March 2026:
1. Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar 2’ Propaganda Row
One of the month’s loudest debates centred on ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, which was accused by critics and several online commentators of pushing a political agenda. Despite its massive global box office haul, the Aditya Dhar directorial faced heavy criticism for its hyper-nationalistic narrative. The film’s detractors called it propaganda, while supporters insisted it was merely reflecting social and political realities. The row only grew louder after industry names began weighing in, with Anupam Kher, Ravi Kishan and more defending the film. The row escalated further when Reet Padda, sister of actor Aneet Padda, called it a "government-friendly" film that used political speeches to justify policies like demonetization. Following a brutal social media backlash from ‘Dhurandhar’ fans, Reet was forced to delete her Instagram account. Adding fuel to the fire, actress Dia Mirza later weighed in, comparing the film's success to the "celebration of jingoism," contrasting it with the criticism her own show ‘IC 814’ faced for "humanizing" complex characters.
ALSO READ | Anupam Kher Slams “Propaganda” Labels For ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, Hails Ranveer Singh’s Performance
2. The Sikh Objection Around ‘Dhurandhar 2’ Scenes And Imagery
The ‘Dhurandhar 2’ backlash did not stop at the propaganda debate. A separate controversy erupted over Sikh religious sentiments after objections were raised to a viral image showing Ranveer Singh in a turban with a cigarette, and to a scene involving R Madhavan’s character reciting lines while holding a cigarette. Complaints were filed, the matter escalated into police action, and R Madhavan issued a clarification saying there was no intention to insult anyone and that he had extinguished the cigarette before the scene started. Director Aditya Dhar later also clarified that the smoking image of Ranveer Singh circulating online was fake. He publicly warned people against spreading manipulated images.
3. Nora Fatehi’s ‘Sarke Chunar’ And Kangana Ranaut’s Scathing Critique
The song ‘Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke’ from the pan-India film ‘KD: The Devil’ (Kannada) sparked a national debate over obscenity. Featuring Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt, the track was called out for graphic double-entendre lyrics describing intimacy. Singer Armaan Malik expressed disappointment, noting that commercial songwriting had hit a “new low”. As the criticism intensified, the controversy developed real consequences. Reports said complaints were filed before the CBFC and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the NHRC sought an action taken report, and the song was eventually removed from YouTube and other platforms.
ALSO READ | Netizens Fact-Check Kangana Ranaut For Blaming “Bollywood” Over Vulgarity In Nora Fatehi’s Kannada Song
Later, Kangana Ranaut also weighed in, stating that “Bollywood has crossed all limits with vulgarity” and demanding stricter regulations. However, Kangana faced intense trolling on social media after netizens pointed out that the film in question isn't even a Bollywood production. While the Kannada song was dubbed in Hindi for a wider audience, the creative control and production lay with the Kannada film industry.
4. Dhruv Rathee Vs. Priyanka Chopra
Following the 2026 Oscars, a viral clip showed Priyanka Chopra nodding but remaining silent while co-presenter Javier Bardem made a “Free Palestine” remark on stage. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee later slammed the actress for her “privileged neutrality,” arguing that as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, she had a moral obligation to take a stand. However, defenders of the actress argued that celebrities are not required to be political commentators at every public appearance.
ALSO READ | Dhruv Rathee Slams Priyanka Chopra Over Oscars Moment, Calls Her Silence “Privilege”
5. Badshah Summoned Over ‘Tateeree’ Lyrics
Rapper Badshah found himself in legal trouble after the Haryana State Commission for Women (HSCW) issued a formal summons regarding his Haryanvi song ‘Tateeree’. The commission alleged that the lyrics were derogatory towards women and promoted “vulgarity” under the guise of pop culture. After Badshah missed the initial hearing, the commission directed him to appear in Panipat on March 13. A case has also been registered by the Haryana Police as part of a wider crackdown on objectionable content in regional music.
6. Oscars 2026: Dharmendra ‘In Memoriam’ Snub
Indian fans were left outraged when the 98th Academy Awards omitted Bollywood legend Dharmendra from the televised ‘In Memoriam’ segment. Despite a career spanning nearly 300 films, the veteran actor was only featured on the Academy's website list. Hema Malini called the omission a “shame” and a failure of the Academy’s claims of global inclusivity. Oscar producers defended the decision, citing the “difficulty” of curating the segment, but the snub remains one of the most talked-about international slights to Indian cinema this year.
ALSO READ | Hema Malini, Esha Deol Break Silence On Dharmendra Being Left Out Of Oscars ‘In Memoriam’ Segment
7. Sara Ali Khan’s Temple Affidavit Demand
A religious controversy erupted when Hemant Dwivedi, president of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), announced a new rule requiring “non-Sanatanis” to submit an affidavit of faith to enter the Kedarnath shrine. He specifically mentioned Sara Ali Khan, a frequent visitor, stating she would need to declare her faith in Sanatan Dharma to offer prayers. The move, aimed at “maintaining the spiritual character” of the Himalayan shrines, drew sharp reactions from across the political and film spectrum.
8. Prakash Raj’s Dig At South Stars
Prakash Raj took a veiled dig at Telugu superstars like Mahesh Babu and Allu Arjun for praising Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar 2’. He suggested that their public endorsements were “signs of obligation” spreading to the South, hinting that they were pressured to support the film’s narrative. The comment sparked a backlash from Tollywood producers, who accused Prakash Raj of “poking into sensitive issues” and creating unnecessary friction between the Hindi and Telugu film industries.
9. AR Murugadoss’ Rs 10 Crore ‘Madharaasi’ Refund Row
Tamil cinema was rocked by a financial dispute when the producers of ‘Madharaasi’ (Sri Lakshmi Movies) filed a formal complaint against director AR Murugadoss. The controversy stems from a massive budget overrun – the film reportedly escalated from Rs 115 crore to Rs 170 crore – coupled with a poor box office performance. In an unusual move, the producers have demanded that Murugadoss reimburse Rs 10 crore of his fee to cover losses. The Tamil Film Producers Council is currently mediating, as the demand threatens to set a “negative precedent” for director accountability in the industry.
10. Rakesh Bedi And Sara Arjun Trolling Storm
Veteran actor Rakesh Bedi also found himself at the centre of a social media storm after a clip from a ‘Dhurandhar’ event went viral and some users described his gesture towards Sara Arjun as inappropriate. The criticism spread fast, and Rakesh Bedi later pushed back, saying the interaction had been misread and that he had always treated her affectionately in a fatherly manner.
March 2026 showed how quickly Indian film controversies now snowball: a teaser, lyric, poster, clip, or comment can trigger legal action, political commentary, online outrage and official clarification almost overnight.
