Just days after its thunderous release on March 19, Aditya Dhar’s espionage blockbuster Dhurandhar: The Revenge (also referred to as Dhurandhar 2) has not only smashed the ₹1,000 crore global box office mark but is now battling a fresh wave of AI-generated misinformation.
Director Aditya Dhar issued a strongly worded statement on Thursday, categorically denying the authenticity of viral images showing lead actor Ranveer Singh’s character — Hamza Ali Mazari (formerly Jaskirat Singh Rangi) — smoking while wearing a turban. Dhar described the visuals as “completely untrue,” “fabricated,” and created by “morphing officially released promotional material using artificial intelligence” with the clear intent “to provoke and create mischief.”
“I hold the highest respect for the Sikh community. Every portrayal in the film has been handled with utmost sensitivity, dignity, and responsibility,” Dhar stated, urging audiences to rely solely on official content and not fall prey to doctored visuals circulating with “ulterior motives.” He also warned that such manipulations “will be dealt with firmly.”
The controversy erupted when a Mumbai-based Sikh organization raised objections to the purported image and a separate scene involving R Madhavan’s character reciting verses from the Guru Granth Sahib while allegedly smoking. Madhavan quickly clarified that he had extinguished the cigarette before delivering the sacred lines, with no smoke visible on screen — a detail he said was meticulously supervised by Dhar himself during filming
The film, a direct sequel to the 2025 smash hit Dhurandhar, follows Ranveer Singh’s transformation from Jaskirat Singh Rangi into the formidable underworld figure Hamza Ali Mazari, operating as a covert operative deep inside Pakistan. The high-stakes espionage saga has received widespread acclaim for its intense performances, with Ranveer once again delivering a “wholesome crazy” and transformative act that has been praised across the industry.
This is not the first time AI deepfakes and fan-made posters have stirred trouble around the film. Earlier promotional buzz also saw similar fabricated posters (some mistakenly linked to a non-existent song called “Pralay”) being debunked as non-official. Dhar’s latest statement comes as the film continues its record-breaking run, having already crossed ₹900 crore globally within its first week and showing no signs of slowing down.
Industry observers note that the swift clarification highlights growing concerns over AI misuse in Bollywood, where manipulated visuals can quickly ignite communal sensitivities and legal complaints. Dhar’s firm stand reinforces the production team’s commitment to respectful storytelling while protecting the film’s integrity amid its massive commercial success.
As Dhurandhar: The Revenge basks in audience love pan-India and overseas, the message from the director is clear: watch the film as intended — and don’t believe everything you see on social media.