The historic box office run of the film Dhurandhar has been shadowed by a simmering controversy between its director, Aditya Dhar, and popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee. The conflict ignited after Rathee published a critical review of the film, questioning its use of real-life events. As the film's global collections soared past the monumental ₹900 crore mark, Dhar chose a path of silent defiance, letting the numbers counter the criticism in a move that has sharply divided public opinion.
The Spark: Dhruv Rathee's Critical Review
In late December 2025, Dhruv Rathee, known for his analytical videos, released a review dissecting Dhurandhar. His primary critique centered on the film's narrative choices and its handling of real-world historical events. Rathee's analysis, reaching his millions of followers, posed significant questions about artistic license and factual representation in cinema. This review placed the blockbuster, headlined by Ranveer Singh, under a new lens of scrutiny beyond its commercial performance.
Aditya Dhar's Indirect Counter: Letting Numbers Speak
Instead of issuing a direct public rebuttal or engaging in a verbal spat, Aditya Dhar adopted a strategic silence. His response was indirect but potent. The filmmaker took to social media, not with words of defense, but by highlighting and celebrating the film's staggering commercial success. By focusing on the box office figures—which, as of December 24, 2025, had crossed ₹900 crore worldwide—Dhar's move was widely interpreted as a subtle swipe at Rathee's critique. It underscored a classic industry argument: that overwhelming audience acceptance validates a film's impact more than individual critical opinions.
A Divided Audience and Industry Echoes
This silent exchange has fueled a heated debate across social media and industry circles. Audiences have split into two clear camps. One group praises Dhar's stance and the film's undeniable cultural and commercial impact, seeing the box office numbers as the ultimate measure of success. The other group supports Rathee's right to critique and echoes his concerns about the blurring lines between fact and fiction in historical or event-based storytelling. The controversy has added an unexpected layer to Dhurandhar's legacy, transforming its narrative from just a box office rampage to a talking point about criticism, success metrics, and artistic responsibility in Indian cinema.
The debate was further amplified when filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) made veiled remarks about the film, questioning broader trends in Bollywood. As Dhurandhar continues its run, the clash between critical analysis and commercial triumph, embodied by the Dhar-Rathee dynamic, continues to engage the nation.
