A Bollywood action thriller motion picture, titled Dhurandhar and featuring the talented actor Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar, has been formally banned in major Gulf nations, thereby impacting its box office collection abroad. A spy thriller, which hit screens in India on 5 December 2025, has been banished from being shown in all six nations that comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, as all these nations failed to certify it due to political undertones.
Reasons for Banning the Movie
As per reports, the Gulf censoring authorities failed to certify Dhurandhar as the screenplay contains some elements that have been associated with geopolitics and an anti-Pakistan agenda, and that might be very sensitive to the region’s audience. The production house attempted to certify the film for release, but no Gulf nation cleared it.
It’s not the first Bollywood production that has struggled with issues pertaining to politics and international subjects in the Middle East. Sky Force, The Diplomat, Article 370, and Tiger 3 are some Bollywood productions that have suffered a ban on distribution.
Domestic vs. International Box-Office Results
Even with the setback in the Gulf, Dhurandhar’s performance in India has been outstanding, as it has achieved some critical milestones within the first week itself after its release. According to sources from the industry, it has been noticed that the film:
- Entered the 200 crore club within seven days of its release — a commendable sign of intense audience response within India.
- Also made significant foreign income outside the Gulf area and added favourable returns to its foreign earnings.
However, it is believed that if the film had hit the Gulf markets, which have always been lucrative markets for Bollywood films, Dhurandhar’s global collection would have been much higher.
Cast, Story, and Constant Buzz
Dhurandhar It is an action-packed spy thriller with an ensemble cast that includes:
- Ranveer Singh
- Akshaye Kh
- Sanjay Dutt
- R. Madh
- Arjun Rampal
- Sara Arjun
It is no surprise that it has raised some discussion among people regarding its geopolitical inspirations.
Although Dhurandhar continues its impressive performance in the Indian box office and foreign markets, the ban imposed on it within the Gulf region still raises awareness about the role of political considerations within global cinematic distribution. Although it might affect the additional income that could have been derived from that considerable foreign market, local box office success and satisfactory audience word-of-mouth reviews have ensured that it retains its status as a blockbuster. It highlights for Bollywood productions and filmmakers that, on one side, there is a need for making bold cinematic statements, and on the other side, regional limitations with regards to content have to be met. Because Dhurandhar is reaching more and more people and news about its sequel is spreading, it also leads to some questions about the manner in which Indian cinema influences various global crowds and market changes because of cinematic narrative extension.
More Stories
Tata Projects and ASI Global have inked an MoU to develop next-gen aircraft maintenance facilities in India.
Car Explosion Near Delhi’s Red Fort Sends Shockwaves Through Capital
Ladakh Unrest: Omar Abdullah and Sonam Wangchuk Defend Congress, Slam BJP Over Violence Claims