CBFC Grants Certification to Dhurandhar, Affirms Fictional Narrative

Ranveer Singh’s latest film, Dhurandhar, has received the green light from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), with a release date set for December 5. This decision comes after the family of the deceased Major Mohit Sharma-Ashoka Chakra had approached the Delhi High Court, seeking a suspension of the film, asserting it portrayed his life story and military exploits without their authorization.

With an 'A' classification, the CBFC has confirmed that Dhurandhar is a work of fiction. The board has also unveiled the film’s synopsis and included a four-minute post-credits sequence hinting at a future sequel. Spanning 214 minutes (3 hours 34 minutes), the film is set during significant events such as the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2001 Indian Parliament attack. The narrative revolves around Ajay Sanyal, portrayed by R. Madhavan, the Chief of the Intelligence Bureau, who recruits a young boy from Punjab for a clandestine operation to infiltrate and dismantle a terrorist group in Pakistan.

Rumors suggesting that Ranveer Singh’s character, Hamza, is inspired by Major Mohit Sharma were addressed by the CBFC, clarifying that Hamza is a fictional spy created by the IB Chief, not a representation of an army officer. The film also includes characters inspired by real-life figures, such as gang leader Rehman Dakait (Akshaye Khanna) and Pakistani police officer Chaudhary Aslam, played by Sanjay Dutt, set against the backdrop of rising gang violence in Pakistan’s Lyari during the early 2000s.

The family of Major Sharma contended that the film inaccurately reflects his military achievements, including counter-terrorism operations, and expressed that "a martyr should not be commodified." They raised concerns about violations of Major Sharma’s posthumous rights and their own dignity and privacy, noting that the film closely resembles his life without consulting them or the Indian Army.

To comply with certification requirements, the CBFC noted that the filmmakers implemented numerous changes. They removed violent opening sequences, adjusted intense scenes later in the film, altered character names, muted profanity, and added anti-drug disclaimers. These edits facilitated compliance with both legal standards and original runtime.

Director Aditya Dhar took to social media to clarify that Dhurandhar is entirely fictional. He emphasized that permission would have been requested had the film been based on a real individual. The CBFC reassured that there is no direct or indirect connection to Major Sharma’s life story, and further Army review is unnecessary.

Dhurandhar features a star-studded cast, including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi. The post-credits scene teases a sequel, extending the narrative of the intelligence operation. The film is now cleared for public release, successfully overcoming previous legal challenges ahead of its December 5 debut.