The Gujarat High Court has found itself adjudicating a controversy stemming from a blockbuster Bollywood film. A writ petition was filed before the court, seeking the removal of dialogues from the hit movie Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, and Sanjay Dutt, which allegedly made offensive references to the Baloch community. The petition was filed by two members of the Baloch community, as reported by Ahmedabad Mirror.
Court's Initial Ruling and Reasoning
On Wednesday, the Gujarat High Court declined to grant any immediate relief to the petitioners. Justice Aniruddha P Mayee refused to issue an injunction against the film's dialogue. The judge observed that the statements in question appeared to reflect the personal opinion of a fictional character and did not directly infringe upon the petitioners' legal rights.
Further, as per reports from the Indian Express, the court sought an explanation from the petitioners' side on how they were prejudiced by the dialogue, given that the film's narrative is set in a region outside India. The court orally remarked, "The [film is about a] dispute between the two neighbouring countries and you are saying that you are being defamed in India… You have to substantiate how you have been prejudiced… You are trying to take something out of context…" The bench has scheduled the next hearing in this case for January 9.
The Controversial Dialogue at the Heart of the Case
The legal dispute centres on a specific line delivered by actor Sanjay Dutt, who plays SP Chaudhary Aslam in the film. The contentious dialogue is: "I always tell the big boss that you can trust a crocodile, but never a Baloch."
The petitioners have argued that this line paints the entire Baloch community in a derogatory and demeaning light. Members of the Baloch community residing in India have expressed that their sentiments were deeply hurt, calling the portrayal insulting, provocative, and baseless.
Legal Arguments and Community Impact
The counsel for the petitioners contended before the court that the dialogue unfairly "compared the community to an animal that cannot be trusted". They emphasized that the statement was a general one, not aimed at any specific character or gang, thereby tarring the entire community with the same brush.
The petitioners also submitted that the film's visuals and words referring to the Baloch are "anti-caste and racial". They argued that the scene violates provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and guidelines issued by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which expressly prohibit content that defames or disparages any caste or community.
In their submission, the petitioners' counsel highlighted that the Baloch community is part of a large region extending from countries in the North West to India, including parts of Iran, Pakistan, and even Gujarat in India. This, they implied, makes the dialogue relevant and damaging to community members within India's borders.
The court's decision to not grant interim relief means the film continues to run in theatres unimpeded for now. Dhurandhar has been a major box office success, having reportedly crossed ₹925 crore worldwide. The outcome of the January 9 hearing will be closely watched, as it touches upon issues of creative expression, community sensibilities, and the regulatory framework governing Indian cinema.
