Dhurandhar: New Bollywood film divides opinions in India and Pakistan

An espionage thriller set in Pakistan, Dhurandhar has provoked a sharp debate over its political messaging.

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Dhurandhar, which hit cinemas last week, plunges audiences into a high-octane world of espionage, gang wars and patriotic fervour.

Anchored by Bollywood star Ranveer Singh's swaggering performance as Hamza, an Indian spy on a perilous mission in Karachi in Pakistan, the film traces his battles against criminal networks, shadowy operatives and personal demons - all framed against the backdrop of India-Pakistan tensions.

While the action-packed sequences and riveting plot have earned praise from many viewers, the film, directed by Aditya Dhar, has also provoked sharp debate over its political messaging and treatment of historical events.

Dhar first gained national attention in 2019 with his debut Uri: The Surgical Strike, a dramatisation of India's 2016 airstrikes on Pakistan. The film was a major box-office hit and earned him a national film award.