Ranveer Singh’s action thriller Dhurandhar has reportedly been banned in all Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. A source told that the film was denied release due to concerns about its perceived “anti-Pakistan” storyline. Although the makers attempted to secure clearance, no Gulf nation approved the film’s theme, leading to a complete ban in the region.
Alongside Ranveer Singh, Dhurandhar features Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi, with direction by Aditya Datt. The film follows an Indian officer who secretly enters Pakistan to dismantle the country’s underworld and political nexus.
Previous Films Banned in the Gulf
This isn’t the first time Bollywood films with Pakistan-related plots have faced restrictions in the Middle East:
- Fighter (2024), starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, was banned in all Gulf countries except the UAE—though the UAE also suspended it a day later. Even a re-edited version was rejected by authorities.
- Sky Force (Akshay Kumar) and The Diplomat (John Abraham) were also banned for their sensitive content involving Pakistan.
- Article 370 (2024) was refused certification across the GCC region.
- Tiger 3 (2023) faced bans in Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar.
- The Kashmir Files (2022) was banned in multiple Gulf states, though later cleared in the UAE with an adults-only rating.
Box Office Impact
Despite the Gulf ban, Dhurandhar is performing exceptionally well worldwide. The Ranveer Singh starrer has already earned Rs. 44.08 crore overseas in just four days. Industry experts believe the numbers would have been even higher had the film released in the lucrative UAE/GCC markets.