DUBAI: The Bollywood film Dhryendra has been banned across all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries due to its negative portrayal of Pakistan, which is deemed politically and culturally sensitive.
The ban affects nations including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
The prohibition stems from the film’s alleged anti-Pakistan narrative and certain scenes considered controversial by the region’s censors. Given the close diplomatic ties between these Gulf countries and Pakistan, as well as the large Pakistani diaspora, content perceived as inflammatory is often subject to scrutiny.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhryendra stars Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. The plot, which draws inspiration from events such as the 1999 aircraft hijacking, the 2014 Parliament attack and other political incidents, references Pakistan’s underworld, which was flagged as objectionable by the Gulf censorship boards.
Released on December 5, 2025, Dhryendra has performed well at the box office, earning ₹188.60 crore in India within the first six days and ₹44.08 crore internationally. However, the ban in the GCC, an important market for Bollywood, poses a significant blow to the film’s revenue prospects in the region.
