Emraan Hashmi's defense of Dhurandhar sparks debate
Emraan Hashmi, the star of Netflix's upcoming series Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web, is making headlines for his spirited defense of the film Dhurandhar, despite admitting he hasn't watched it. In an interview with India Today, Hashmi criticized the "crap mentality" of those who downplay the success of films like Dhurandhar, arguing that their success should be celebrated as it boosts the industry and keeps cash flowing. He praised the film's marketing and audience turnout, even without prior viewing.
However, Dhurandhar is not just another blockbuster. It has become one of the most polarizing Indian releases in recent memory, especially in Pakistan and India. The film has shattered records domestically, but it has also faced significant criticism for its ideological bent and treatment of regional politics, nationalism, and history. Many viewers and commentators describe it as thinly veiled propaganda, causing discomfort among audiences in both countries.
Hrithik Roshan, who has benefited from similar large-scale patriotic spectacles, publicly distanced himself from the film's politics, acknowledging potential disagreements with its messaging while respecting the craft. Online, the film has sparked intense debates, with discussions spilling across social media. It has reportedly faced a ban in the Middle East due to its "anti-Pakistan messaging" and faced backlash from the Baloch community in Junagadh for alleged hate speech.
Some praise Dhurandhar as gripping entertainment, while others view it as a troubling example of commercial cinema simplifying complex political realities into chest-thumping spectacle. Hashmi's defense, therefore, seems less about artistic freedom and more about a familiar Bollywood reflex: if it sells, don't question it.
The irony of dismissing criticism as "crap mentality" while admitting no engagement with the work being debated is also noted, as it sidesteps the deeper issues of what the film chooses to say, omit, and amplify.
