Bollywood Blockbuster Dhurandhar Re-released With Minor Changes After Ministry Flags Baloch References

New Delhi: Ranveer Singh and Akshay Khanna starrer ‘Dhurandhar’, which has   already become of the highest-grossing Bollywood movies in recent years, was re-released in theatres on Thursday with minor changes and edits.

According to media reports, the changes were prompted by a direction from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which ordered the makers of the film to mute some references to the Baloch community of Pakistan.

What are the changes to the film?

The blockbuster Bollywood movie ‘Dhurandhar’ is based on the gang wars and unrelenting bloodshed which had wracked Pakistan – particularly the southern port city of Karachi and its surrounding regions – during the 1990s and early 2000s and the efforts by Indian intelligence agencies to exploit the situation to their advantage.

The film delves deep into the various socio-ethnic conflicts which have riddled Pakistan since its birth and  the nexus between terrorism and state machinery through an amalgamation of fact and fiction.

However, some of the characters in the film are depicted as mouthing dialogues containing unflattering references to the Baloch community.

"The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India has asked the makers to mute two words and one dialogue in reference to Baloch," an official told the media.

When will the new version come out?

The revised version of the film with the changes ordered by the ministry started playing in theatres from Thursday.

What is the film’s storyline?

The film, which is based on true events, shows the central protagonist played by Ranveer Singh infiltrating one of the biggest gangs in Karachi before taking on four of Pakistan's deadliest terrorists. The characters in the film are based on real life figures and speculation over their identities has created a buzz on social media. Ranveer Singh's character is speculated to be inspired by gallantry award winner Major Mohit Sharma, who was killed in action in the line of duty.

The blockbuster Bollywood movie ‘Dhurandhar’ features a stellar cast and features, apart from Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, and Sanjay Dutt, all of whom have played crucial roles in the film.