Ranveer Singh’s latest action drama Dhurandhar is riding high at the Indian box office — but has reportedly hit a roadblock in the Gulf region.
According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, the film has been banned in six Gulf countries due to concerns over its political and anti-Pakistan themes.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar released on December 5 and features a powerhouse cast including Ranveer Singh, R. Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and Sara Arjun. The film has impressed audiences at home, crossing the 200 crore mark within its first week.
Analysts believe the numbers could have been substantially higher had it received approval in the UAE/GCC markets traditionally strong regions for Bollywood releases.
However, securing an international release proved difficult. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE reportedly denied clearance, blocking the film across the Gulf.
A source told Bollywood Hungama that distributors anticipated the possibility of a ban, as films perceived as anti-Pakistan have historically struggled to release in the Middle East.
Despite the team’s efforts, all six countries “did not approve of the theme of the film.”
The ban has significantly impacted the film’s overseas earnings.
The situation mirrors previous controversies involving politically charged Indian films.
Titles such as Sky Force, The Diplomat, Article 370, Tiger 3 and The Kashmir Files also faced restrictions in parts of the Gulf.
Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone’s Fighter was initially banned across the region, including the UAE, where even a re-edited version was later rejected.
Dhurandhar follows Intelligence Bureau Chief Ajay Sanyal (R. Madhavan) as he leads a mission to dismantle a terror network in Pakistan.
Ranveer Singh plays a Punjabi youth recruited from prison and trained to infiltrate Karachi’s criminal underworld.
Meanwhile, the makers have already confirmed a sequel. Dhurandhar 2 is set to hit cinemas on March 19, 2026, where it will face a major box-office clash with Yash’s highly anticipated film, Toxic.