Aditya Dhar and Ranveer Singh’s much-awaited film is set to release on 5 December 2025, and cinema lovers have been waiting for this for a long time. After the trailer, the curiosity of viewers has only increased. But something feels off about Ranveer Singh’s character.
People are connecting Ranveer’s character to Major Mohit Sharma, an Indian Army officer who was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime military decoration. Sharma served in the elite 1st Para Special Forces.
Not just the public, Major Mohit Sharma’s family also believes that Ranveer’s character is inspired by real events from the late officer’s life. The family has approached the Delhi High Court, claiming that the film appears to be based on him and has been made without their consent. Because of this objection, the movie is now facing legal trouble.
Sharma’s family approached the Delhi High Court against ‘Dhurandhar’, seeking protection of their son’s legacy and persona. They also asked for a private screening of the film for the family before its release.
Aditya Dhar has publicly stated that the movie is fictional and not based on the Major’s life. Taking action on this, the censor board on Tuesday (2 December) gave clearance to the film.
So now the question is, if the movie’s character is fictional, then how is the film ‘a true-based event’? It feels like a cheat with the audience. Because the trailer and posters say the movie is based on true events, and if the story is based on true events, then how can the character be fictional?
Is Dhar playing it safe? Are they hiding something for business reasons? Do family emotions not matter to him anymore?
Is he fooling people?
If they really showed the character of the Major in the film and still forgot to speak to the Major’s family, then even before the release, during shooting, during promotions, they had plenty of time. If they wanted, they could have taken permission.
Meanwhile, social media has been filled with speculation that several other characters in the film are also based on real individuals:
- Sanjay Dutt is rumoured to be portraying Chaudhary Aslam Khan, an ‘encounter specialist’ of the Karachi police who was killed in a bomb blast by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in 2014.
- Akshaye Khanna’s character is said to resemble Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch (Rehman Dakait), a notorious criminal from Karachi’s Lyari area who was killed in 2009.
- R. Madhavan allegedly looks similar to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, a former intelligence officer.
- Arjun Rampal is being called out for playing ‘Major Iqbal’, who many believe is actually based on Ilyas Kashmiri.
So again, the same question, if the characters are fictional, then how is the movie based on true events?
Let’s come back to Major Mohit Sharma.
He is remembered as one of India’s most fearless Special Forces officers. Before being awarded the Ashok Chakra, he had already received the Sena Medal for infiltrating a Hizbul Mujahideen network in Jammu & Kashmir and eliminating two militants while operating undercover.
He joined the National Defence Academy in 1995 and was commissioned into the 5th Battalion of The Madras Regiment in 1999 after passing out from the Indian Military Academy. His deployment with the Rashtriya Rifles strengthened his combat skills and soon led him to volunteer for the elite Special Forces. After completing demanding probation and training, he earned his place in the 1 Parachute Battalion (Special Forces).
In 2009, while on a Special Forces mission in Kupwara, he was grievously injured during a fierce encounter in which several militants were neutralised. He fought until his last breath but did not survive. For his extraordinary courage and supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, Major Mohit Sharma was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra.
In the end, it is not just about a film. It’s about a soldier who gave his life for the nation. If the story truly draws from Major Mohit Sharma, then he deserves full respect and acknowledgement. And if it does not, then the audience deserves honesty. Heroes don’t ask for credit, but they should never be hidden behind fiction.
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