YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has criticised filmmaker Aditya Dhar and his film Dhurandhar: The Revenge in his latest post on X. Rathee labelled Dhar a “BJP propagandist”, stating that the director’s earlier work contained subtle propaganda, but the latest film is overt in its messaging.
Rathee’s post read, “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.”
Earlier, Rathee had criticised the trailer of Dhurandhar for its excessive depiction of violence. He described the portrayal as harmful, which led actor Ranvir Shorey to defend the filmmaker.
Following the trailer’s release on November 18, Rathee posted a strongly worded critique on X. He said, “Aditya Dhar has truly crossed a limit of cheapness in Bollywood. The extreme violence, gore and torture shown in his latest film trailer is the equivalent of watching ISIS beheadings and calling it ‘entertainment’. His lust for money is so unhinged that he is willingly poisoning the minds of the young generation. This is the chance for Censor Board to show if they have a bigger problem with people kissing or watching someone get skinned alive.”
Rathee later vowed to challenge the film’s narrative in a forthcoming video. Without naming the film, he said his next video would “destroy a Rs 300 crore propaganda film.” This statement came shortly after Dhurandhar crossed the Rs 300-crore-mark at the Indian box office.
On X, Rathee wrote, “It takes 1 YouTube video to destroy a Rs 300 crore propaganda film. And I guarantee you that the MELTDOWN after this video will be so bad. They’re not ready for this. Releasing tonight ;)”
The controversy highlights the ongoing debate around the film’s content and messaging. While the film has achieved commercial success, it has also attracted criticism for its portrayal of violence and alleged political bias.
Dhruv Rathee’s posts have sparked discussions on social media, reflecting the divided opinions on Dhurandhar: The Revenge. The filmmaker and supporters have defended the film against claims of propaganda, maintaining its creative intent.
