Hindi
Dhurandhar banned across six Gulf nations over anti-Pakistan theme: Report
MUMBAI: Ranveer Singh’s new spy thriller Dhurandhar has been barred across six Gulf countries, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, after authorities reportedly objected to its anti-Pakistan messaging. The sweeping ban has reignited debate over how Indian films that delve into cross-border geopolitics are policed in the Middle East.
Distributors had sought theatrical clearance across the region, a crucial market for Bollywood, but none of the countries approved the release. According to a Bollywood Hungama report, there had been “apprehensions” the film would be blocked given its perceived stance, and all appeals failed.
The Gulf has previously restricted films with similar themes, including Fighter, Sky Force, The Diplomat, Article 370, Tiger 3 and The Kashmir Files. Even Fighter, released briefly in the UAE, was pulled within a day before a revised cut was rejected.
At home, Dhurandhar shows no sign of slowing. The film has crossed Rs 200 crore net in India within a week and earned Rs 44.5 crore overseas, excluding the Gulf.
The film marks Aditya Dhar’s return to direction after six years. His first outing since the 2019 hit Uri: The Surgical Strike, Dhurandhar draws on real geopolitics and covert R&AW operations, including events linked to Operation Lyari in Pakistan. Alongside Singh, the cast includes Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan and Arjun Rampal. Riding strong word of mouth and its geopolitical backdrop, the film is shaping up to be one of the year’s biggest box-office performers.
Hindi
Jio Studios, Sanjay Dutt team up to revive Khal Nayak
Rights acquired for new version, format under wraps as remake plans take shape.
MUMBAI: The villain is back and this time, he’s rewriting his own script. Jio Studios has partnered with Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aspect Entertainment to revive the 1993 cult classic Khal Nayak, marking a fresh chapter for one of Bollywood’s most iconic anti-hero stories. The original film, directed by Subhash Ghai under Mukta Arts, was a commercial and cultural milestone, with Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Ballu becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable performances.
Dutt, along with Aksha Kamboj, has now acquired the rights from the original creators, bringing on board Jio Studios and its President Jyoti Deshpande to steer the project creatively.
While the exact format whether remake, sequel, prequel, or a completely new narrative remains undisclosed, the collaboration aims to reinterpret the story for contemporary audiences while retaining the essence that made the original a defining film of the 1990s.
The move taps into a broader industry trend of reviving legacy intellectual property, particularly characters with strong recall value. “Khal Nayak” was notable for pushing mainstream Hindi cinema into morally grey territory at a time when heroes were largely one-dimensional, making Ballu’s character a standout.
The project also marks the film production debut of Aspect Entertainment, signalling a push towards more technology-led storytelling frameworks. Meanwhile, Jio Studios continues to expand its slate, having built a library of over 200 films and series, with more than 60 titles collectively winning 500-plus awards.
For Dutt, the revival is as much personal as it is strategic, a return to a role that reshaped his career. For the industry, it is another sign that nostalgia, when paired with scale, remains a powerful box-office proposition.
Because in Bollywood, some villains never fade, they just wait for the perfect comeback.
