Just days before its theatrical release, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has run into controversy after a legal notice was issued over a scene involving Ranveer Singh’s character.

The film, scheduled to release on March 19 with paid premieres on March 18, is facing objections from members of the Sikh community. The issue has raised concerns about whether the controversy could impact the film’s release.

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What is the controversy about?

The controversy revolves around Ranveer Singh’s character, Jaskirat Singh Rangi, who is shown as a Sikh man in the film. A legal notice has been sent to the film’s makers, the actor, and the relevant authorities. The objection is specifically about scenes where the Sikh character is shown smoking.

Complainants have argued that such portrayal is religiously insensitive and misrepresent Sikh beliefs. In Sikhism, the consumption of tobacco is strictly prohibited, making the depiction particularly controversial.

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Paramjit Singh Sarna also raised concerns in a tweet on X(formerly Twitter). He wrote, “The poster of the Pralay song from the film Dhurandhar 2 depicts a turbaned Sikh character holding a cigarette. This portrayal is deeply offensive and a serious violation of Sikh religious principles. In Sikh tradition, tobacco is strictly prohibited and regarded as a Bajjar Kurehit, one of the gravest breaches of the Sikh code of conduct.”

“Displaying a Sikh wearing a Dastaar while holding a cigarette is therefore a blatant misrepresentation of Sikh identity and hurts the sentiments of Sikhs worldwide,” he explained, adding, “The Sikh turban is a sacred article of faith. Its use in this context is completely irrelevant to the narrative of the film and appears to trivialise and misrepresent Sikh beliefs before a global audience. Such imagery directly attacks Sikh sentiments and projects a distorted understanding of the Sikh faith. We urge the concerned authorities to take immediate cognisance of this matter, investigate the portrayal, and direct the makers to remove or correct this offensive poster.”

Legal notice and impact on release

The legal notice was reportedly filed by a member of the Sikh community and addressed to the filmmakers, the Central Board of Film Certification and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The complaint alleges that the scenes hurt religious sentiments and portray the Sikh community in a negative light.

As of now, there has been no official confirmation of any delay in the film’s release. The controversy comes at a crucial time, as the film is already seeing strong advance bookings and significant buzz in both domestic and overseas markets.

It remains to be seen whether the makers will make last-minute changes or issue a clarification.