Dhruv Rathee attacks Dhurandhar in new video, calls Aditya Dhar ‘a propagandist’; actor responds to his video: ‘Got views due to us’
Content creator Dhruv Rathee has released another video criticising Dhurandhar director Aditya Dhar. He also claimed that there is a coordinated campaign running against him, to dislike and report his video.
4 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Dec 23, 2025 07:00 PM IST
Dhruv Rathee released another video slamming Dhurandhar, after his previous clip received widespread criticism (Photo: X/Dhruv Rathee, Aditya Dhar Films)
Dhruv Rathee’s recent video slamming the ‘false propaganda’ in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar went viral on the internet. While a section of people agreed with his opinion, fans and actors of the film defended it. Now, the content creator has attacked the Ranveer Singh starrer once again in a new video. He introduced a ‘troll tax’, meaning that those who wish to comment on his video will have to subscribe to his channel. meanwhile, in a conversation with SCREEN, Dhurandhar actor Naveen Kaushik, who plays Donga in the film, responded to his criticism. “He is an opinionated person. I am associated with the film, I don’t agree with him obviously. He got some views because of us, congratulations,” Naveen said.
While sharing screenshots of his like-dislike ratio on the Dhurandhar criticism video, Rathee claimed that organised groups have a mass-dislike campaign for his earlier Youtube video. He also addressed the trolling around his thoughts and called director Aditya Dhar the new Vivek Agnihotri, for making propaganda films. Moreover, he gave a befitting reply to angry fans, introducing a ‘troll tax’ for those wanting to comment on his clip.
Taking to his X handle, the Youtuber called out ‘misleading claims’ and alleged that there is a strong coordinated campaign going on against him, to mass-dislike his previous video reviewing the film. He also alleged that director Aditya Dhar is “a BJP sycophant and a propagandist filmmaker. Inkenaye favourite filmmaker, director Aditya Dhar ka level bhi ab hum logon ko samajh aa gayahai. Woh bhi Vivek Agnihotri ki tarah BJP kechaatukar, propagandist filmmaker hain.” The caption along with the video read, “The meltdown after my Dhurandhar video. Also see the actual like-dislike ratio.”
The Youtuber said that groups across platforms like WhatsApp, Reddit and X have been asking people to dislike and report his video, including many BJP-affiliated social media handles. He even showed screenshots of the dislikes and negative comments, which have been done to create a false narrative of the situation. However, as per the YouTube studio data showcased by Rathee in the clip, the dislike ratio was higher on his video as compared to the number of likes.
What did Dhruv Rathee say about Dhurandhar?
Dhruv Rathee had posted a video on his YouTube channel two days ago slamming Dhurandhar, when fans and several actors of the film industry were speaking in support of the movie. “Director of the film Dhurandhar, Aditya Dhar, has made a false claim and tried to spread nonsense propaganda through his film. Well-made propaganda is more dangerous. Films like The Taj Story and The Bengal Films were not dangerous, kyunki wo bakwaas films thi (because they were bad films). But Dhurandhar is an engaging film,” he had said.
He further added, “The problem is that Dhurandhar repeatedly shows you it’s inspired by real events. It says so in the trailer. It shows the real footage from the 26/11 attacks. The real audio recordings of conversations between the terrorists and their handlers have been used. It also uses real-life gangsters and cops based in Pakistan’s Lyari.”
What Dhurandhar actors said about the political narrative in the film
In an earlier interview, Danish Pandor had reacted to Hrithik Roshan’s comments about not agreeing with politics of Dhurandhar. He had told India TV, “There are some things that you would prefer, and I wouldn’t and vice versa. As far as the political aspect goes, these are all the research things, even if you take into consideration the 26/11 attack, you can’t deny that. It had happened and the voice notes of handlers and terrorists were there on the screen, it literally gives you goosebumps, and at the same time, disheartens you as a person… what exactly have they done.”
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Talking about Dhurandhar, the film continues to rule the box office, breaking new records everyday. Besides Ranveer Singh, it also stars Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi, R Madhavan, and others. The second part of the film will release on March 19.
Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events.
Experience & Professional Background
Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include:
The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam.
Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include:
Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth.
Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era.
On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan.
South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More
