The year 2025's major Bollywood success story, Dhurandhar, entered the new year with a significant, government-mandated alteration. The blockbuster spy thriller was re-released in cinemas across India on 1 January 2026 in a revised version, following intervention from authorities and a legal challenge, as reported by India Today.
What Prompted the Sudden Change in the Film?
The catalyst for this unprecedented mid-run edit was a petition filed by the Baloch community in the Gujarat High Court last week. The community took legal action, accusing the film of allegedly targeting them with hate speech through a specific dialogue. Their petition argued that the dialogue using the community's name was portrayed in a derogatory and offensive manner.
Following the court proceedings, the film's production team complied with the concerns. Concurrently, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) of India issued directives to the makers, formally asking for modifications. A source quoted by Bollywood Hungama confirmed, "The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India has asked the makers to mute two words and one dialogue in reference to Baloch."
What Exactly Was Edited in Dhurandhar?
The changes made to the film are described as minimal and targeted, ensuring the core plot of the spy thriller remains untouched. The primary edit involves the muting of the word 'Baloch' in one or two dialogues.
The most notable dialogue, delivered by actor Sanjay Dutt's character, originally stated: "Magarmachh pe bharosa kar sakte hai, par Baloch pe nahi (You can trust a crocodile, but not a Baloch)." In the new version now playing in theatres, the word 'Baloch' has been muted following the directives.
The logistical execution of this change was swift. On 31 December 2025, theatre owners nationwide received an urgent communication instructing them to replace the existing Digital Cinema Package (DCP) of Dhurandhar with the revised version, paving the way for the 1 January re-release.
Dhurandhar's Meteoric Box Office Run and Future
Despite this late-in-the-game edit, Dhurandhar's commercial juggernaut remains unshaken. The film, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, is inspired by real events like the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2001 Parliament attack. It follows the story of a spy recruited to infiltrate a gang in Karachi's Lyari area.
Featuring a powerhouse cast including Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sara Arjun, the film boasts a runtime of 3 hours and 32 minutes, making it one of the longest Indian films. Produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, its box office performance has been historic.
Domestically, the film is nearing the ₹750 crore mark, while globally it has spectacularly crossed the ₹1000 crore milestone. The franchise's momentum continues, with Dhurandhar 2 already slated for release in March.
This incident highlights the evolving intersection of cinematic expression, community sensitivity, and regulatory oversight in India's film industry, demonstrating how even a record-breaking hit can be subject to post-release modifications based on legal and governmental feedback.
