Shazia Iqbal Slams ‘Dhurandhar’ as ‘Sinister’: Dhadak 2 Director Goes Private After Viral Backlash

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Hindi film industry, Shazia Iqbal, the director behind the critically acclaimed Dhadak 2, has launched a scathing attack on Aditya Dhar’s latest blockbuster, Dhurandhar. Following its OTT premiere on Netflix, Iqbal took to social media to brand the film as "sinister," a move that quickly backfired into a storm of online trolling.

The "Sinister" DNA: What Shazia Iqbal Said 

The controversy erupted when Shazia Iqbal posted a series of cryptic yet pointed Instagram stories after watching Dhurandhar. Although she did not name the film directly in her text, she used the film’s chart-topping track "Fa9la" in the background, leaving no room for ambiguity.

Iqbal’s critique was sharp and uncompromising:

"What a sinister film! It’s not hidden, it’s not unintentional—inciting hate and violence is in the DNA of the film. But it’s a ‘well made’ film guys... with some cool BGM. Well done, industry dude bros."

 She further targeted the industry's reception of the movie, calling out what she perceives as a lack of social responsibility. She noted that while technical aspects are being praised, the "blatant apathy" towards minority communities in the narrative is alarming. 

The Backlash: From Viral Critique to Private Profile 

The reaction was swift and fierce. As Dhurandhar currently stands as one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time crossing the ₹1,300 crore mark its massive fanbase did not take the criticism lightly.

Within hours of her posts going viral, Iqbal was met with a wave of intense trolling. Supporters of the film and "industry dude bros" alike flocked to her comments, accusing her of being "bitter" over the modest box office performance of Dhadak 2. In a bid to distance herself from the toxicity, Shazia Iqbal has now made her Instagram account private, cutting off public access to her profile.

The Clash of Two Worlds: Dhurandhar vs. Dhadak 2 

The friction highlights a growing divide in Bollywood between mainstream "masala" patriotism and social realism: 

Dhurandhar: An espionage thriller directed by Aditya Dhar (Uri), starring Ranveer Singh. While a commercial juggernaut, it has faced accusations of being propaganda, with even directors like Anurag Kashyap and Hrithik Roshan admitting they disagreed with its political "DNA" despite praising the craft.

Dhadak 2: A gritty exploration of caste discrimination produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. While it struggled at the box office (earning roughly ₹22 crore), it has found a second life as a "cult favorite" on Netflix.

By going private, Iqbal has signaled a retreat from the digital frontlines, but her "sinister" label has already cemented itself as one of the most polarizing industry critiques of 2026.