'Dhurandhar' banned in Gulf countries for this reason
What's the story
Ranveer Singh's latest action thriller, Dhurandhar, has been doing well at the box office, both in India and overseas. The film has reportedly raked in an impressive ₹58 crore from international markets within six days of its release, per Sacnilk. However, this number could have been higher had it been released in the Gulf countries or the UAE/GCC belt.
Release hurdles
'Dhurandhar' faced resistance in Gulf countries
A source told Bollywood Hungama, "Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have not released Dhurandhar." "There were apprehensions that this would happen as the film is perceived as an 'anti-Pakistan film.' Also in the past such films have failed to procure a release in this region." "Yet the team of Dhurandhar made an attempt but sadly all the countries did not approve of the theme of the film."
Film overview
'Dhurandhar' plot and cast details
Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, features an ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi. The film revolves around an Indian officer who enters Pakistan and wreaks havoc in the country's underworld and political system.
Past incidents
'Fighter' and 'Sky Force' faced similar bans
The 2024 film Fighter, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, was initially banned in all Gulf countries except the UAE due to its portrayal of the Pulwama attack. The Akshay Kumar-led Sky Force and John Abraham's The Diplomat were also banned in several Middle Eastern countries for similar reasons. These films also had themes related to Pakistan.