Dhurandhar 2: Global blockbuster or state-sponsored fantasy?
The Blue Newsroom explores the controversies around Dhurandhar 2, from political messaging to financial and censorship disputes

Amber Shamsi
Pakistan Editor
Amber Rahim Shamsi is an award-winning multimedia journalist, political commentator, and free speech advocate with extensive experience in media development. She previously served as Director of the Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ) at IBA, where she spearheaded the launch of iVerify Pakistan, a UNDP-supported fact-checking platform. A former BBC World Service bilingual reporter, she has hosted three major current affairs shows on Pakistani news channels. She is also an IVLP and ICFJ Digital Fellow, a media trainer, and an advocate for press freedom and gender representation in journalism.
Indian movie Dhurandhar 2 is breaking box office records, raking in over ₹2,400 crore ($296 million) worldwide, but controversy shadows its success.
The film’s portrayal of a fictionalized Karachi and the so-called "New India" hero has sparked debate over where cinema ends and political messaging begins.
The Blue Newsroom hosted by Amber Shamsi dissects these controversies, examining the surge in counterfeit notes linked to the film’s demonetization plot, the ₹90 crore losses from Gulf bans, and Bollywood’s growing entanglement with political influence.
Joined by Nukta correspondent Sibte Hassan, the program explores the alleged three-step “Siege Playbook” used to silence critics and the broader implications for the industry and audiences alike.








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