Dhurandhar Receives CBFC Green Light as Fiction Following Revisions

Post by : Mara Rahim

Ranveer Singh’s anticipated film Dhurandhar has obtained certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), clearing the way for its premiere on December 5. This decision arrives after a request from the family of the late Major Mohit Sharma, a holder of the Ashoka Chakra and Sena Medal, who approached the Delhi High Court to halt the movie, alleging that it depicted his life without authorization.

The film has been granted an 'A' rating and has been officially identified as a fictional tale. The CBFC has also shared details about the plot and a four-minute post-credits teaser that hints at a potential sequel. Running for 214 minutes (3 hours 34 minutes), the film is set against the backdrop of the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, following the story of Ajay Sanyal, India’s Intelligence Bureau Chief, portrayed by R. Madhavan, who recruits a young boy from Punjab for a covert mission aimed at breaking down a terrorist network in Pakistan.

While there were claims that Ranveer Singh’s character, Hamza, mirrors Major Mohit Sharma, the CBFC clarified that Hamza is a creation of the IB Chief and not an Indian Army officer. The film also includes characters inspired by real-life figures like Rehman Dakait (played by Akshaye Khanna) and Pakistan’s top cop Chaudhary Aslam, featuring Sanjay Dutt, set in the gang-activity-prone area of Lyari.

The family of Major Sharma contended that the film draws extensively from his military endeavors, including operations against terrorism in Kashmir, without their consent. They asserted that "a martyr is not a commercial commodity" and claimed violations of Major Sharma’s posthumous rights and their family's dignity. Their petition indicated that the film heavily reflects Major Sharma’s life without any consultation with them or the military.

According to the CBFC, numerous changes were made by the producers to meet legal requirements. Some violent elements from the start were omitted, intense scenes were altered, a character’s name was modified, and a curse was muted, alongside the addition of anti-drug disclaimers. These revisions enabled the film to retain its original length while adhering to compliance standards.

Director Aditya Dhar took to social media to clarify that Dhurandhar is a fiction-based work and stated that permissions would have been sought had it been inspired by real incidents. The CBFC reiterated that the film bears no direct correlation to Major Sharma’s life and does not need further Army examination.

Featuring Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi, Dhurandhar's post-credits scene teases a sequel, continuing the intelligence operation narrative. With legal barriers now resolved, the film is set to hit theaters on December 5.