Film body seeks reversal of Dhurandhar ban in gulf countries, appeals to PM Modi for intervention

Dhurandhar, the blockbuster Ranveer Singh-starrer spy thriller that has smashed box office records in India, has been banned in six Gulf nations. This has now prompted the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) to appeal for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention. The producers’ body has described the situation as a suppression of creative expression and urged diplomatic engagement to resolve the impasse.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, IMPPA described the ban as “unilateral and uncalled for”, arguing that the film had received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in India and was being unjustly blocked despite its commercial success and global acclaim. “We earnestly appeal to your kind self to intervene regarding the unilateral and uncalled for ban imposed on the film ‘Dhurandhar’ by the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia,” the industry body wrote in its appeal.

IMPPA also emphasised that the nations involved are considered friendly partners of India, with regular diplomatic, cultural and commercial engagement across sectors. The association said it hoped the Government of India would take up the matter with the relevant authorities and push for respect for freedom of expression and the lifting of the ban at the earliest.

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The film, which opened on December 5, 2025 and has since become one of the highest-grossing Hindi films ever, was not approved for theatrical release in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The restrictions are widely believed to have been imposed because of the movie’s narrative, which Gulf authorities reportedly perceived as having anti-Pakistan content, a sensitivity in a region with large South Asian diasporas.

The boycott of Dhurandhar in the Gulf, a key overseas market for Bollywood action films, has already had measurable financial consequences. Industry sources previously shared that the ban may have cost the film an estimated Rs. 90 crore (around $10 million).

Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar and produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, has been praised for its high-octane action sequences and gripping narrative. The ensemble cast also includes Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi. Its ongoing success has underscored its cultural impact and commercial pull even as the Gulf ban continues.