Web Desk: Sanjay Dutt’s upcoming action thriller, Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, is facing controversy just a week before its scheduled release on December 5, 2025. The film, which stars Sanjay Dutt as the late Pakistani police officer Chaudhary Aslam, has drawn criticism from Aslam’s widow, Naureen Aslam, who has threatened legal action if her husband is depicted in a negative light.
Widow Questions Portrayal of Chaudhary Aslam
Naureen Aslam expressed concern over a dialogue in the film’s trailer describing her late husband as “the child of a devil and a jinn.” She said that such language is offensive not only to Aslam but also to his mother. “We are Muslims, and such words are disrespectful to both my husband and his mother, who was a simple and honest woman,” she said. She added that she will decide on legal action after watching the film.
Naureen also highlighted discrepancies in the portrayal of other real-life figures. She criticized Akshaye Khanna’s role as Rehman Dakait, a criminal she claims was primarily involved in extortion and kidnapping rather than the exaggerated terrorist depiction shown in the trailer.
Film Sparks Broader Criticism
The trailer of Dhurandhar has drawn attention in both India and Pakistan for its fictionalized portrayal of Karachi’s Lyari area. The film casts Ranveer Singh as an Indian spy deployed in the region and depicts the area as a “spy war zone.” Critics on social media have described the portrayal as unrealistic and accused the film of blending fake nationalism with inaccurate history.
Other cast members include R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Arjun Rampal and Rakesh Bedi. Arjun Rampal plays Major Iqbal, labeled “Angel of Death” in the storyline, while Sanjay Dutt’s Chaudhary Aslam is referred to as “The Jinn.”
Director Maintains Fictional Narrative
Aditya Dhar, known for Uri: The Surgical Strike, has maintained that Dhurandhar is entirely fictional, despite its inclusion of real-life personalities. He previously clarified that the film is not a biopic of late Major Mohit Sharma, whose family had also raised objections in court earlier.
As the release date approaches, controversies surrounding Dhurandhar continue to grow, with discussions focusing on the fine line between creative fiction and respectful representation of historical figures.
Read more: After du Plessis Moeen Ali also skips IPL Commitments for PSL
