04 April,2026 03:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Hirav Mehta
Hirav Mehta, who plays a BUF rebel in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, spoke about the recent controversy over a morphed video showing Ranveer Singh supposedly smoking while wearing a turban. Filmmaker Aditya Dhar later confirmed the clip was fake, but it had already caused a stir online.
Hirav said he never believed the viral video was real. "Honestly, I was not surprised or shocked at all. I know Aditya Dhar sir's sensibility and how smart he is. When I saw the video, I immediately felt this was not possible. He is a very responsible person and would never do something like that. He always ensures that no religion or sentiment is hurt," he shares.
Speaking to the broader issue, Hirav said that facing false stories is now part of being an actor. "As actors, we receive a lot of love, but there are also trolls who spread hate and create things that are not even true. I feel this is part of our journey. Personally, I choose to ignore such narratives and not let them affect my mental health. The love I get is far greater than the hate," he says. Content can be easily altered. Hirav stresses the importance of awareness among audiences. "It's very important for people to verify before reacting. Earlier, people would react instantly because there wasn't much awareness. But now, audiences are more informed and can often identify what is AI-generated or fake. I also think platforms should add proper labels or watermarks on such content," he adds.
Hirav also admits that controversies can put pressure on actors, even if they are not involved. "An actor's life is very public, so when false news spreads, it does affect you somewhere. But over time, you learn to handle it. Audiences are smart - they may react initially, but eventually they understand the truth," he explains.
When asked if controversies help or hurt a film, Hirav gives a balanced answer. "Sometimes controversies do bring attention to a project, but I don't think they harm it in the long run. A film involves so many people, so such situations are bound to happen. I don't believe it negatively impacts the film overall," he concludes.
A Sikh organisation recently filed a police complaint in Mumbai against the makers of Dhurandhar 2 and actor Ranveer Singh, claiming that a promotional poster from the film has hurt religious sentiments. The complaint was submitted at Mulund police station on March 17 by a group that identified itself as Sikhs in Maharashtra. The group raised objections to the portrayal of the actor in Sikh attire.
In the complaint, the organisation also objected to a poster that allegedly shows Ranveer Singh wearing a turban, sporting a long beard, and a kada, all of which are sacred symbols in Sikhism, while holding a cigarette in the same visual.
Director Aditya Dhar took to his official Instagram handle to issue a statement, urging the audience not to believe in AI-created fake images of Ranveer Singh's character Jaskirat shown smoking. He also reiterated that he holds the utmost respect for the Sikh community, requesting fans to rely only on official content. He called it "a deliberate act of misrepresentation intended to provoke and create mischief." He also warned of strict action against those involved in creating the "malicious" content.
