Aditya Dhar’s sequel ‘Dhurandhar’, which released in December, has crossed the Rs 1 billion mark in nine days, driving a steady storm at the box office with sold-out shows across the country. In the whirlwind of excitement, Bollywood stars like Aamir Khan and Boman Irani have revealed that they are yet to see him. Dia Mirzaon the other hand, he speaks with courage: “There is a tendency to enjoy and celebrate jingoism.”
Dear Dia MirzaIC 814 ‘criticism
Dia recently opened up on The Namrata Zakaria Show about the criticism her band IC 814 faced. Kandahar kidnapping the series ‘Dhurandhar’ was tagged as a ‘chest thumping film’, while IC 814 faced the heat for taking a different route. He shared, “The show was called to humanize all the characters, including the terrorists. I think it’s because we celebrate jingoism too much now. We adore it. There is a tendency to enjoy and celebrate jingoism, which is not our show. I don’t regret it. It has a balanced approach and allows people to see each side as it was before.“
Dia Mirza asks artists to speak up
As the voices of the industry hold back the film, Dia highlights why artistes need to raise their voices. “I think it’s very important to have a voice as an artist. I’m a big Shabana Azmi bhakt, and I follow her message: if art is not used to improve the lives of others, then what is the purpose of art. So yes, I am political, and I have a position. And yes, I will express it through the choices I make in the stories I tell.”Dia has also recognized the toll of adopting these attitudes, “It’s not easy. We are regularly trolled. Beyond that, there are all kinds of fears, because if you don’t toe the line and don’t agree with what the higher forces expect, it’s not easy.”
Bollywood goes silent after that’Dhurandhar 2 ‘
On December 5, Dhurandhar’s statement on Xn raised the spirits of Bollywood celebrities. Hrithik Roshan praised its epic scope, despite political differences. But since Dhurandhar 2 arrived on March 19, she and most others have remained mum.
Southern stars praise ‘Dhurandhar’, others call it propaganda
South Indian film stars have taken the latest applause, with Allu Arjun, Jr NTR and Mahesh Babu cheering the film and its cast. Filmmakers Ram Gopal Varma and SS Rajamouli were showered with praise. On the other hand, Prakash Raj and Divya Spandana were condemned as “propaganda” and “jingoists”.