Ranveer Singh’s action-thriller Dhurandhar, which has quickly become one of 2025’s most celebrated releases, is facing a major setback overseas. Although the movie is doing fantastic business in India and some other parts of the world, it has yet to be released in any of the Gulf countries, leading to a lot of talk about the reasons for the ban.
Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar Banned In Gulf
Aditya Dhar’s film has been widely praised for its engaging screenplay, emotional appeal, and the great work of Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, and Rakesh Bedi. Besides, Karan Johar, Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, and Smriti Irani, among others, have also been vocal in their appreciation of the film’s craft.
However, the film is not coming to theatres in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, or the UAE. According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, the authorities in these countries refuse to give the green light due to concerns that the movie’s geopolitical themes could be interpreted as politically sensitive. A source revealed that the movie was mostly considered anti-Pakistan and that other such movies also had difficulties getting clearance in the region.
Although the filmmakers were reported to be in talks with the release through the makers, none of the Gulf censor boards showed consent for the film, thus resulting in a complete regional block. This move is restarting the much-talked-about conversation of Indian films based on cross-border conflicts that are heavily scrutinised in Middle Eastern markets, i.e., where political neutrality and cultural sensitivity have to be strictly followed.
The main issue with the film is Dhurandhar’s plot, which revolves around a secret Indian intelligence operation in Pakistan. Officials, given the Gulf’s strong diplomatic and cultural relations with Pakistan and a large South Asian expatriate community, were reportedly putting a restraint on the release of a film that could be a source of provocation or diplomatic risk.
The ban on this film is not the first one. Films such as Fighter, Sky Force, The Diplomat, Article 370, Tiger 3, and The Kashmir Files have all been banned or restricted in some Gulf locations.