New Delhi: Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor has shared his review of actor Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar franchise, questioning its political propaganda, gruesome violence, and overall portrayal of India-Pakistan relations. While acknowledging the strong cinematic execution and performances in director Aditya Dhar's spy thriller series, the senior politician voiced serious concerns regarding the graphic content and underlying messaging.
In a detailed video shared across his official social media channels, Tharoor addressed the political commentary and intense bloodshed within the films, noting that the excessive violence felt over the top and unnecessary. He described certain sequences as among the most graphic ever witnessed in Indian cinema, pointing to an overabundance of mayhem and cruelty.
Tharoor also touched upon the international reception of the project, observing that the movie has reportedly faced bans in Pakistan and several Gulf nations due to concerns that it might foster animosity between Indians and Pakistanis. He noted that such reactions were understandable given the narrative context.
Reflecting on how viewers across the border might interpret the two-part action drama, Tharoor suggested that while certain dialogue lines might elicit humor, other moments could lead Pakistani audiences to contemplate actions committed in their country's name. Despite these reservations, he considered the second installment, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, to be a stronger piece of fictional entertainment than the original film released in December 2025.
Drawing from his own professional background, Tharoor contrasted the cinematic covert operations with his real-life engagements with Indian intelligence personnel. He explained that his interactions involved civilised analysis, conversations, and information exchanges rather than the dramatic cloak-and-dagger maneuvers or explosions depicted on screen.
The politician additionally evaluated the timeline surrounding R Madhavan's character, Ajay Sanyal, which is loosely based on National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. He noted that the portrayed bureaucratic continuity across decades should be interpreted strictly as creative license within a fictional framework, meant to tell a story while imparting certain lessons.
Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which hit theaters on March 19, 2026, features a prominent ensemble cast including Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Danish Pandor, and Manav Gohil in key roles.