Social Media Influencer Dhruv Rathee Condemns Dhurandhar's Graphic Violence
Popular YouTube creator Dhruv Rathee has launched a scathing attack against filmmaker Aditya Dhar's upcoming Bollywood project Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, accusing the film of crossing all boundaries of acceptable violence in cinema.
In a strongly worded social media post on November 18, 2025, the content creator known for his informative videos on current affairs and history expressed deep concern about the level of gore and torture depicted in the recently released trailer.
Rathee's Explosive Social Media Statement
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Rathee didn't mince words when he wrote: "Aditya Dhar has truly crossed a limit of cheapness in Bollywood. The extreme violence, gore and torture shown in his latest film trailer is the equivalent of watching ISIS beheadings and calling it 'entertainment'."
The critic went even further by questioning the director's motives, stating that "His lust for money is so unhinged that he is willingly poisoning the minds of the young generation, desensitising them to gore and glorifying unimaginable torture."
Rathee specifically highlighted a disturbing scene from the trailer where the antagonist, played by Arjun Rampal, tortures his enemy by attaching chains directly to his flesh. Other characters, including one portrayed by Akshaye Khanna, are also shown engaging in brutal killings throughout the promotional material.
CBFC Under Scanner for Selective Censorship
The social media commentator also directed his criticism toward the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), challenging them to take a firm stand against such graphic content. He pointedly asked: "This is the chance for the Censor Board to show if they have a bigger problem with people kissing or watching someone get skinned alive."
This remark references the ongoing debate about the CBFC's seemingly inconsistent approach to censorship, where violent scenes often make it to the final cut while kissing scenes and religious references frequently face cuts or modifications.
The trailer for Dhurandhar, which dropped on November 18, has been widely described as Ranveer Singh's most violent film to date, sparking conversations about the increasing normalization of extreme gore in Indian cinema.
Dhurandhar Joins Growing List of Violent Bollywood Films
This isn't the first time a Bollywood production has faced criticism for excessive violence. The article mentions several recent films that have stirred similar controversies:
- Kill starring Lakshya Lalwani and Raghav Juyal, directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, featured high-intensity action with significant gory moments
- Animal starring Ranbir Kapoor, which faced backlash for glorifying violence, with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga defending his creative choices
While both these films received praise for their action choreography and narrative elements from certain critics, the depiction of violence remained a contentious issue for many viewers and commentators.
Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, features an impressive ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, and Akshaye Khanna. The film now finds itself at the center of a heated debate about creative freedom, social responsibility, and the potential impact of graphic violence on younger audiences.
As the conversation around cinematic violence continues to evolve, this latest controversy raises important questions about where the Indian film industry draws the line between artistic expression and social responsibility.
