23 March,2026 12:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Vishal Dadlani
Aditya Dhar's directorial Dhurandhar: The Revenge was released in theatres on March 19. Starring Ranveer Singh in the lead, the film has been breaking box-office records with each passing day. However, it has also faced criticism for its storyline, particularly portions that appear to justify the Modi government's 2016 demonetisation move, when Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes were withdrawn overnight.
Now, singer Vishal Dadlani has taken an indirect dig at the film for its depiction of the policy decision. In the movie, the move is renamed "Operation Green Leaf" and is portrayed as a strategic step to curb terror funding networks.
Although Vishal did not directly name the film, he hinted at it by using Satinder Sartaaj's track Jaiye Sajna, which features in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, making the reference evident.
Vishal shared an Instagram Story featuring screenshots of several reports on the real-life impact of demonetisation on citizens and the country's economy. One of the statements he posted read, "The high percentage of cash return led to widespread analysis that the move failed to permanently eliminate a large portion of âblack money' from the economy, as intended (sic)."
Adding to this, Vishal 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 (sic)."
In another story, he shared a separate analysis that stated, "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 (sic)."
He added alongside it, "Watch films for fun, but get your information from better sources (sic)."
Released on March 19, the action-packed spy thriller opened to massive numbers and gained strong momentum over its first weekend. The film crossed the Rs 300 crore mark at the domestic box office within three days. It delivered a record-breaking opening, earning Rs 43 crore from paid previews on Wednesday and Rs 102.55 crore on its first day. Its total domestic nett collection currently stands at Rs 339.27 crore.
Set in Lyari town in Karachi, an area known for its history of gang wars and violent turf battles, Dhurandhar revolves around covert intelligence operations against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions and terror events. The sequel charts the rise of Ranveer Singh's character, Hamza Ali Mazari, in Karachi's underworld while also exploring his origins as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, tracing the journey of a young man who eventually transforms into a covert operative.
