It’s always interesting to see how cinema can create not just entertainment but also serious debates. Recently, filmmaker Shazia Iqbal, director of Dhadak 2 strongly criticised the hit film Dhurandhar calling it “sinister” and accusing it of spreading hate and violence.

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar was one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. The spy thriller received praise for its scale, background music, performances and action scenes. However, it also faced criticism for its political messaging and portrayal of sensitive issues.

After the film was released on Netflix on January 30, Shazia Iqbal shared her reaction on Instagram Stories. Without directly naming the film, she used its title track in the background and wrote that promoting hate and violence is not accidental but “in the DNA of the film.” Her words clearly showed how disturbed she felt after watching it.

Shazia also questioned the film industry’s attitude towards such content. She criticised fellow filmmakers and insiders for praising the movie only because it was technically well made, while ignoring how it might affect minority communities. According to her, good music and slick filmmaking should not excuse harmful ideas.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Dhurandhar has sparked controversy. While many celebrities praised the film, some also expressed discomfort with its ideology. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap admitted that although he admired the craft, he did not agree with certain ideas shown in the film. Actor Hrithik Roshan also shared a balanced opinion, saying he disagreed with the politics but still learnt a lot from it as a student of cinema.

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Dhurandhar stars Ranveer Singh as an Indian agent on a dangerous mission in Pakistan’s Lyari area. The film also features Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, and Sanjay Dutt in key roles. Despite the criticism the movie broke records earning over ₹1,300 crore worldwide and becoming the first Bollywood film to cross ₹1,000 crore domestically.

Now, with Dhurandhar 2 set to release on March 19 and clash with Yash’s Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, the debate around cinema, politics and responsibility has become even stronger.

This controversy makes the audience realise that films are not just about box office numbers. They influence minds, opinions and emotions. While creative freedom is important filmmakers also need to be aware of the social impact their stories can have. The discussion started by Shazia Iqbal reminds us that cinema is powerful and with power comes responsibility.