Madhavan clarifies scene amid Gurbani row

Actor R. Madhavan has issued a clarification following controversy over a scene in the upcoming film Dhurandhar: The Revenge, where his character is alleged to be shown smoking while reciting a verse from Sikh scripture.

The row erupted after Gurjyot Singh Keer, president of the Sikhs in Maharashtra organisation affiliated with the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), accused the film’s team of disrespecting Gurbani and hurting Sikh sentiments. He named director Aditya Dhar, lead actor Ranveer Singh, and Madhavan in his criticism.

Keer alleged that the controversial sequence shows Madhavan’s character, Ajay Sanyal, smoking a cigarette while reciting the line “Sura so pehchaniye jo lade deen ke heth” from the Dasam Granth, attributed to Guru Gobind Singh.

Responding to the backlash, Madhavan clarified that the intent of the scene had been misinterpreted and stressed that neither he nor the makers intended to disrespect any religion or sacred text. He stated that the film does not promote such behaviour and that the sequence must be viewed in the full narrative context.

The actor also expressed respect for the Sikh community and their religious sentiments, adding that the team remains mindful of cultural sensitivities.

The controversy has sparked debate on social media, with some users calling for edits or removal of the scene, while others have urged restraint until the film’s release and proper context is understood.

There has been no official statement yet from the film’s director or producers regarding any changes to the scene.