As Dhurandhar: The Revenge continues its record-breaking box office run, the Aditya Dhar-directed film has also sparked conversations beyond cinema. Musician Vishal Dadlani has seemingly reacted to the film’s depiction of demonetisation, suggesting through social media posts that audiences should seek facts elsewhere.
While Dadlani did not directly name the film, he used Satinder Sartaaj’s track Jaiye Sajana — which features prominently in Dhurandhar 2 — making the reference unmistakable.
What Vishal Dadlani Shared
In a series of Instagram Stories, Dadlani shared posts that questioned the real-world impact of the 2016 demonetisation move. One of the statements he reposted read:
“The high percentage of cash return led to widespread analysis that the move failed to permanently eliminate a large portion of ‘black money’ from the economy, as intended.”
Alongside it, Dadlani wrote: “In light of the new BS doing the rounds, it’s important to remember that… A film is just entertainment. Facts are facts no matter what.”
Another Post: Terror Attacks and Demonetisation
In another Story, he highlighted a separate analysis:
“Terror attacks and violence in India continued after the 2016 demonetisation, with major incidents like the 2019 Pulwama attack and ongoing border disturbances. While aimed at curbing terror funding, analysis indicates aggregate terror incidents remained unchanged, showing varied impacts: capital-intensive attacks fell in the Northeast while Left-Wing Extremism areas showed no disruption.”
His accompanying comment read: “Watch films for fun, but get your information from better sources.”
The Film’s Portrayal
In Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the 2016 demonetisation policy is reimagined as ‘Operation Green Leaf’ and portrayed as a strategic move to curb terror funding networks. The film has been praised for its scale and performances, but it has also drawn discussions around its political themes.
The Bigger Picture
Dadlani’s posts come amid the film’s massive success and ongoing debates about its portrayal of real-world events. By reminding audiences that “a film is just entertainment” and encouraging them to “get information from better sources,” he has added his voice to a wider conversation about the blurring lines between cinema and political messaging.
