Bollywood actress Yami Gautam marked the release of the much-anticipated film Dhurandhar on 5 December with a heartfelt and emotional social media post dedicated to her husband, the film's director Aditya Dhar. Her note praised his relentless dedication while also taking a strong stand against a damaging practice she claims is plaguing the Hindi film industry.
An Emotional Tribute to a Director's Vision
In her celebratory message, Yami Gautam poured out her admiration for Aditya Dhar's hard work, passion, and the quiet sacrifices he made to bring Dhurandhar to life. She extended her praise to the entire team, calling them "true Dhurandhars" for their collective might and effort.
"Too many emotions running today, many hearts beating together!!! You guys are Dhurandhars in your own might," she wrote. Hinting at the film's potential for a long and successful theatrical run, she added, "DHURANDHAR is not a parting gift of 2025 but is here to welcome 2026 for all of us across the globe." She signed off her post with a patriotic "Jai Hind."
Exposing a 'Harmful Trend' in Bollywood
Prior to the release, Yami Gautam had shared a far more serious message, voicing a critical concern. She alleged that a harmful trend of extortion is emerging in Bollywood, where certain individuals demand money for "marketing" to generate fake hype for a film. She claimed that if the payment is not made, these parties threaten to spread negativity about the project online.
The actress labeled this behavior a form of blackmail that could severely damage the entire film industry if allowed to continue. She expressed dismay that many consider this practice "normal" or harmless. "I say this as a wife of an extremely honest man who has given everything to this film with his undying hard work, vision & grit," she wrote, connecting her personal stake to the broader issue.
Yami Gautam urged producers, directors, and actors in Bollywood to come together and stop this culture before it worsens. She pointed to the South Indian film industries as an example of unity against such practices. "Let's not kill the joy of filmmaking & presenting it to the world & letting the audience decide what they feel. We need to protect our industry environment," she concluded.
Industry Support and The Film's Scale
Her concerns found a powerful ally in superstar Hrithik Roshan. The actor questioned the integrity of journalism that engages in such paid promotions, asking about the "true voice" of journalists. "Without freedom of expression, without the truth helping us evolve, what job satisfaction can they or any of us hope for?" he pondered, lending significant weight to the discussion.
Dhurandhar is the ambitious follow-up to Aditya Dhar's massively successful debut, Uri: The Surgical Strike. The spy thriller boasts a stellar ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. With a reported budget of a staggering ₹280 crore, the film blends fiction with real historical events like the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2001 Parliament attack.
The plot follows IB chief Ajay Sanyal (played by Madhavan) who recruits a young prisoner (Ranveer Singh) for a perilous mission in Karachi. The recruit must then navigate the dangerous criminal underworld of Pakistan, facing threats at every turn.
