Ahead of the scheduled release of the film ‘Dhurandhar’, the Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to consider the objections raised by the parents of late Major Mohit Sharma who claim the film is based on their slain son.
Major Sharma was killed in 2009 on the line of duty while conducting operations targeting terrorist groups in the Kashmir Valley. His parents, in their petition, sought protection of their son’s legacy and persona, and were also seeking that the film be privately screened for the family before release.
Disposing of a petition by Sushila Sharma and Rajendra Prasad Sharma, Justice Sachin Datta also kept it open for the CBFC to refer the film to the authorities concerned of the Indian Army for a clearance from them.
With a star-cast featuring Ranveer Singh, the film is scheduled for nation-wide release on Friday.
The CBFC has recommended 10 cuts in the film. The Board’s counsel Ashish Dixit also informed the court that while a certificate has not yet been granted to the film and is under process, the filmmakers have given a declaration that it is not a biopic and there’s a disclaimer that the film is based on fiction.
Dixit, who was also appearing for the Indian Army, further submitted that upon a review by the CBFC committee, the film was not found to be a biopic. It was further submitted that the Indian Army, too, has no objection to the release of the film.
Additionally, senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal, representing Jio Studios, the producer of the film, also submitted that although the film is inspired by true events, it has nothing to do with the life and persona of Major Sharma and is rather set in the backdrop of the Karachi underworld.
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Highlighting that “certain missions conducted by Major Sharma, including undercover operations and human intelligence-based interventions, remain classified in nature and have not been disclosed even to the general public, much less for commercial entertainment”, the petitioners have submitted that “any cinematic representation loosely based on such operations, whether factually correct or imagined can inadvertently reveal patterns, methods, terrain references, tactical doctrines, or unit capabilities that are sensitive to national security.”
It was also submitted that the release of the film “may provide adversaries with narratives that could fuel propaganda, retaliation, or targeted threats” and “may elevate the threat perception against the petitioners, who presently remain unprotected and live in a civilian residential neighbourhood.”
Sohini Ghosh is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express. Previously based in Ahmedabad covering Gujarat, she recently moved to the New Delhi bureau, where she primarily covers legal developments at the Delhi High Court
Professional Profile
Background: An alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), she previously worked with ET NOW before joining The Indian Express.
Core Beats: Her reporting is currently centered on the Delhi High Court, with a focus on high-profile constitutional disputes, disputes over intellectual property, criminal and civil cases, issues of human rights and regulatory law (especially in the areas of technology and healthcare).
Earlier Specialty: In Gujarat, she was known for her rigorous coverage in the beats of crime, law and policy, and social justice issues, including the 2002 riot cases, 2008 serial bomb blast case, 2016 flogging of Dalits in Una, among others.
She has extensively covered health in the state, including being part of the team that revealed the segregation of wards at the state’s largest government hospital on lines of faith in April 2020.
With Ahmedabad being a UNESCO heritage city, she has widely covered urban development and heritage issues, including the redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting from the Delhi High Court covers major political, constitutional, corporate, and public-interest legal battles:
High-Profile Case Coverage
She has extensively covered the various legal battles - including for compensation under the aegis of North East Delhi Riots Claims Commission - pertaining to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, as well as 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
She has also led coverage at the intersection of technology and governance, and its impact on the citizenry, from, and beyond courtrooms — such as the government’s stakeholder consultations for framing AI-Deepfake policy.
Signature Style
Sohini is recognized for her sustained reporting from courtrooms and beyond. She specialises in breaking down dense legal arguments to make legalese accessible for readers. Her transition from Gujarat to Delhi has seen her expand her coverage on regulatory, corporate and intellectual property law, while maintaining a strong commitment to human rights and lacuna in the criminal justice system.
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