Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’ has sparked sharply divided reactions, with a section of viewers branding it a propaganda-driven film. Amid this debate, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was recently asked for his views on what he described as “hypernationalistic” cinema, referring to films such as The Kashmir Files and Dhurandhar. While Omar made it clear that he has watched neither, he acknowledged that ‘Dhurandhar’ is drawing sizeable audiences in Kashmir despite the criticism surrounding it.Speaking at the Express Adda, Omar remarked, “I haven’t seen either (The Kashmir Files, Dhurandhar) and truth be told, I don’t intend to see either of them. That said, I must be honest, the first movie (The Kashmir Files) didn’t do very well in the Valley, but the second one (Dhurandhar), and I won’t pronounce it because I will struggle with the name, but the second one seems to be doing roaring business.”He then drew attention to a member of the audience, adding, “I spot Vijay Dhar saab in the audience. He has the only multiplex in the valley and he is nodding away saying that his box office is doing great with this second movie so clearly, the audience in Kashmir, even if it is a propaganda movie, is quite happy to be entertained by it.” According to reports, the film is running to packed theatres not just in Srinagar, but also in smaller towns across the Valley, including Pulwama and Shopian.At the box office, ‘Dhurandhar’ continues its impressive run. The film has grossed ₹702 crore worldwide so far, with Rs 460 crore coming from India alone. This makes it the second highest-grossing Hindi film of the year, trailing only Chhaava, which hit theatres earlier. By comparison, ‘The Kashmir Files’ earned ₹252 crore during its 10-week theatrical run, though it faced widespread criticism upon its release in 2022.A sequel to Dhurandhar is already in the pipeline and is slated to arrive within three months, having been announced at the time of the first film’s release itself. Alongside Ranveer Singh, the cast includes Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Arjun Rampal and Rakesh Bedi, among others.
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