Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller Dhurandhar may be pulling massive crowds in India, but its Middle East release has come to a complete halt. The film has been blocked in six Gulf countries — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain — after authorities reportedly objected to its strongly anti-Pakistan narrative.
Sources told Bollywood Hungama that the makers tried securing a theatrical release across the region — a crucial overseas market for Bollywood — but regulators in all countries declined approval. “There were apprehensions this would happen,” the insider said, adding that the film’s theme was the main issue cited by censors.
Gulf bans not new for patriotic thrillers
The controversy echoes a pattern. Recent films including Fighter, Sky Force, Tiger 3, The Diplomat, Article 370 and The Kashmir Files have also faced restrictions or outright bans in the Gulf. Even Fighter, which briefly released in UAE, was pulled within 24 hours after a revised cut failed to get clearance.
Dhurandhar thrives despite blackout
Despite losing the entire Gulf market, Dhurandhar is roaring at the domestic box office. The film has crossed ₹200 crore (net) in India within its first week and earned ₹44.5 crore overseas (excluding the Gulf).
Directed by Aditya Dhar — his first film since the 2019 blockbuster Uri: The Surgical Strike — Dhurandhar dives into covert R&AW missions and geopolitics. Rumours linked the story to Major Mohit Sharma, but Dhar clarified it is inspired by real intelligence operations, including elements from Operation Lyari in Pakistan.
Along with Ranveer Singh, the film stars Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan and Arjun Rampal. Bolstered by strong word-of-mouth and its gritty political backdrop, Dhurandhar is positioning itself as one of 2025’s biggest hits — even without the Gulf market.