Hindi
I&B ministry orders Dhurandhar makers to mute ‘Baloch’; revised cut in cinemas
NATIONAL: Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller Dhurandhar is heading back to cinemas in a revised cut, even as it continues a record-breaking box-office run.
According to trade communication sent to exhibitors on December 31, distributors have asked theatres nationwide to replace the film’s digital cinema package and screen an updated version from January 1, 2026. The changes follow directives from India’s ministry of information and broadcasting, which required the muting of two words and the alteration of a dialogue. One of the excised references, trade sources said, was the word “Baloch”.
The move comes amid fierce public debate around the film’s political subtext, with critics branding it propaganda even as audiences have turned it into a phenomenon. Released on December 5, Dhurandhar has surged past the box-office tallies of Pathaan, Jawan and Chhaava, crossing Rs 1,100 crore globally and Rs 739 crore in India within four weeks.
Led by Ranveer Singh as an Indian spy embedded inside a terror network in Pakistan’s Lyari Town, the film has drawn particular acclaim for Akshaye Khanna’s turn as Rehman Dakait. It also stars Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and Sara Arjun, among others. Despite its domestic success, the film remains banned across Gulf markets.
Hindi
SC slams Neeraj Pandey over Ghooskhor Pandat title, orders rebrand
SC says film cannot release under current title, seeks new name by February 19.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has delivered a stern reality check to acclaimed filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, directing a mandatory name change for his upcoming Netflix project, Ghooskhor Pandat. On Thursday, a bench comprising justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan made it clear that creative freedom does not grant a licence to denigrate specific communities.
The title, which translates to Bribe-taking Brahmin, sparked a firestorm of protest from groups arguing the name was a slur against the Brahmin caste. The court’s intervention has now pushed the production into a legal corner, requiring a complete rebranding before the film can be released.
The highlights of the hearing were the sharp observations made by the bench regarding modern filmmaking and social responsibility. Justice Nagarathna pointedly questioned the necessity of using provocative titles that could incite social friction.
“Being woke is one thing. But creating this kind of unrest when there is already unrest in the country… If you use your freedom to denigrate any section of society, we cannot permit it,” the justice remarked during the proceedings.
The court emphasized that the Constitutional principle of fraternity is just as important as the right to free speech. The bench suggested that filmmakers must be mindful of reasonable restrictions, especially when a title appears to target the dignity of a particular group.
Interestingly, this was not the filmmakers’ first encounter with the legal system over this project. Earlier in February, Netflix and Neeraj Pandey had already informed the Delhi High Court that they had made a conscious decision to change the title following the initial public outcry.
Despite this earlier admission, the Supreme Court felt it necessary to formalise the matter. The judges were firm that the film would not see a digital release under its original branding, expressing concern that equating a caste identity with corruption was a step too far for a diverse society.
“Why should any section of society be denigrated? We are not here to allow people to be insulted in the name of entertainment,” the bench noted, while issuing formal notices to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Representing the makers, counsel for Pandey and Netflix clarified that the word “Pandat” was intended as a colloquial nickname for the lead character, a gritty police officer played by Manoj Bajpayee, rather than a commentary on the priesthood or the Brahmin community.
Regardless of the intent, the court has demanded a formal commitment. Neeraj Pandey has been directed to file an affidavit by 19 February 2026, proposing a new title and confirming that the film’s content does not defame any community.
With the original trailers and social media teasers already scrubbed from the internet, the film is currently in a state of creative redesign. The industry is watching closely, as this ruling sets a significant precedent for how streaming platforms handle sensitive cultural labels in India.
