Six-Nation Gulf Ban on Dhurandhar Creates New Controversy

Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller Dhurandhar is running strong in India and several overseas markets, yet it reportedly did not get screening clearance in six Gulf states: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. The decision has sparked loud online chatter because the Gulf is usually a key box-office pocket for Hindi films. The gap is being felt now, and that’s the hard part. Discover more stories like this on our Entertainment page.

What’s Behind the Ban

Reports citing industry sources say censors flagged the film’s political tone, with concerns that it is seen as “anti-Pakistan”, a theme that has faced pushback in the region earlier too. An overseas distributor estimate put the Gulf setback at about $10 million (around ₹90 crore), even as the film stayed in demand elsewhere. A quick explainer circulated via this official India Today post.

What Happens Next

The producers’ body IMPPA has also written to India’s Prime Minister, asking for talks and a review of the ban. Meanwhile, clips, songs, and scenes keep trending, and the debate has moved beyond cinema into politics and trade.