As the cinematic world rings in the new year on January 1, 2026, the Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar faces a major overhaul following consequential legal and government pressure. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has officially directed the film’s makers to scrub specific references from the dialogue. The move comes as Baloch community members move HC to seek a permanent ban on what they describe as derogatory and defamatory content aimed at their ethnic identity.
Legal Battle: Why Baloch Community Members Move HC
The controversy ignited when a dialogue delivered by Sanjay Dutt’s character compared the Baloch people to crocodiles, suggesting they were inherently untrustworthy. Offended by this portrayal, representatives of the community filed a writ petition in the Gujarat High Court. They argued that such depictions incite hatred and promote harmful stereotypes against a community that has a significant presence in India, particularly in regions like Kutch and Ahmedabad.
Transitioning from the courtroom to the censor board, the petitioners claimed the film violates the Cinematograph Act, which prohibits content that defames any specific group. Statistics indicate that the Baloch population in Gujarat exceeds 1.5 lakh people, many of whom felt marginalized by the blockbuster’s script. Consequently, the MIB stepped in to avoid further social unrest, mandating that the Baloch community members move HC grievances be addressed by muting the word “Baloch” entirely from the film’s audio track.
Revised Version Released Following MIB Directive
In a swift response to the legal heat, the production house has replaced the original theatrical cut with a revised Digital Cinema Package (DCP). According to The Times of India News, the updated version officially hit screens today to ensure a smooth theatrical run. The makers have complied with all instructions to remove the offensive term, effectively silencing the dialogue that triggered the petition.
Furthermore, this revision arrives just as the film crossed the massive ₹1,100 crore mark at the global box office. As one industry expert noted, “Legal hurdles can stall even the biggest hits; resolving these issues quickly is a survival tactic for modern cinema.” While the Baloch community members move HC resulted in the specific dialogue being removed, the high-octane action and core plot of the spy thriller remain unchanged for the audience.
In conclusion, while Dhurandhar remains a commercial juggernaut, the removal of the specific community reference highlights the growing impact of judicial intervention in cinema. By following the MIB’s directives and responding to the High Court petition, the film is now set for a more peaceful journey through the 2026 box office.
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