The debate around Dhurandhar being labelled a “propaganda” film has received a fresh response from economist and author Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. In a recent interview, Sanyal revealed that he watched both films in the Dhurandhar franchise and genuinely enjoyed them.
Sanyal also argued that cinema should have space for different political and ideological viewpoints. Rather than stopping filmmakers from presenting a particular perspective, he believes audiences should have the freedom to decide whether they want to watch and engage with such films.
Sanjeev Sanyal Says He Loved Dhurandhar
Speaking to News18, Sanjeev Sanyal said he watched the two Dhurandhar films after receiving positive feedback from people around him.
He admitted that he was not familiar with several members of the cast before watching the films, but the franchise introduced him to their work.
Sanyal said he “really loved” both films and added that he came to know several actors because of Dhurandhar. His comments come amid the wider discussion surrounding the political themes and portrayal of events in the franchise.
His Response to the Propaganda Tag
The Dhurandhar propaganda debate has been one of the talking points surrounding the franchise. Critics have accused the films of promoting a particular political viewpoint, while supporters have defended them as entertainment that presents a specific narrative.
Sanyal took a broader view of the controversy.
He argued that different kinds of films should be allowed to exist and that filmmakers should have the freedom to put forward their ideas. His view was summed up by the phrase “let a hundred flowers bloom”, suggesting that multiple perspectives should be able to coexist in cinema.
Sanyal also referred to films he considers to have had an “ultra-left-wing” outlook in the past. He said that when he did not agree with the ideology of such films, he was often told that the simple solution was not to watch them.
Applying the same principle to Dhurandhar, he suggested that viewers who dislike the film can simply choose not to watch it.
“If You Don’t Like Dhurandhar, Don’t Watch It”
Sanyal's comments were not simply an endorsement of the film but also an argument for creative freedom.
He suggested that if viewers disagree with Dhurandhar, they have the choice to reject it, just as filmmakers should have the freedom to make films expressing their own ideas.
He extended the same argument to The Revolutionaries, the upcoming Prime Video series based on his book.
For Sanyal, the larger question is whether popular cinema should be able to accommodate different interpretations of history, politics and society rather than allowing only one type of narrative.
Dhurandhar Became a Major Box Office Success
Directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, Dhurandhar became a major commercial success despite the debate surrounding its political themes and depiction of violence.
The franchise also features actors including Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal, among others.
The success of the films has helped turn Dhurandhar into one of the most talked-about Hindi film franchises of recent times. Reports have also highlighted its strong worldwide box-office performance.
Sanjeev Sanyal’s The Revolutionaries Gets a Series Adaptation
Sanjeev Sanyal is currently associated with another major screen project, The Revolutionaries, which is based on his book Revolutionaries: The Other Story of How India Won Its Freedom.
The series, created by filmmaker Nikkhil Advani, explores the armed revolutionary stream of India's freedom struggle and features actors including Bhuvan Bam, Rohit Saraf, Pratibha Ranta and Gurfateh Pirzada.
Sanyal explained that he believes the story works better as a series because the armed revolutionary movement involved numerous personalities and historical connections that would be difficult to explore fully in a two- or three-hour film.
He pointed out that figures such as Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Rash Behari Bose are often discussed individually, while his book attempts to examine the broader movement and the ideas connecting these figures.
The Revolutionaries to Premiere on September 11
The Revolutionaries is scheduled to premiere on Prime Video on September 11, 2026. The series focuses specifically on one stream of India's freedom struggle rather than attempting to present a complete history of the independence movement.
Sanyal's comments on Dhurandhar therefore arrive at an interesting time, as his own historical work is also being adapted for a streaming audience.
His stance is clear: films can present different political and historical perspectives, while viewers should retain the freedom to decide what they want to watch and what they agree with.
The Dhurandhar propaganda debate is likely to continue, but Sanyal's “let a hundred flowers bloom” approach adds another perspective to the ongoing conversation about creative freedom, political themes and audience choice in Indian cinema.
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