The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to examine allegations that Dhurandhar 2 disclosed sensitive operational details linked to the Indian armed forces.
The direction came while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Deepak Kumar, a head constable with the Sashastra Seema Bal, who alleged that the film revealed military-related information that could pose a threat to national security and integrity.
The court observed that although the film may be fictional, the concerns raised by a serving security personnel could not be dismissed lightly.
Court says fiction cannot escape scrutiny
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the CBFC to treat the petition as a formal representation and take an appropriate decision on the allegations raised.
“Even if the movie is a work of fiction and is made for entertainment purposes, the impact of the movie can't be denied,” the Bench observed during the hearing.
According to the petition, certain scenes in the film allegedly depicted operational locations, military-style actions and characters modelled on senior officials and deceased servicemen in a manner that could compromise security interests.
The petitioner argued that the portrayal was “explicit” enough to warrant examination under provisions of the Official Secrets Act.
“Having regard to the nature of issue and concerns raised in the petition, we are of the opinion that the concerns raised by the petitioner needs to be considered and addressed appropriately,” the court said while disposing of the plea.
Why the controversy erupted
The controversy around the film intensified after sections of viewers and former defence personnel began discussing similarities between scenes in the movie and real-life military operations.
The petition specifically questioned whether cinematic dramatisation had crossed into disclosure of operational patterns and strategic information.
Neither the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting nor the CBFC has publicly commented on the matter yet.
The makers of the film have also not issued an official response following the High Court’s observations.
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Ranveer Singh film became major box office success
Directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh in the lead role, both parts of the ‘Dhurandhar’ franchise emerged as major commercial successes.
According to reports cited during coverage of the case, both films crossed ₹1,000 crore globally and received strong audience response across multiple markets.
The latest legal scrutiny, however, has shifted focus from the film’s box office performance to larger questions around creative freedom, national security and the limits of fictional storytelling in military-themed cinema.
