Director Aditya Dhar, who helmed Dhurandhar 2, has issued a public statement addressing concerns raised by the Sikh community after controversial AI-generated posters went viral. The fake posters depicted characters in Sikh attire smoking cigarettes, sparking immediate backlash online.
What Sparked the Controversy?
On Wednesday, March 25, viral posters showed Ranveer Singh’s character wearing a turban (Dastaar), beard, and Kada while holding a cigarette. Another manipulated image depicted Madhavan’s character, Ajay Sanyal, smoking while reciting a sacred verse from the Dasam Granth, attributed to Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
These doctored visuals quickly spread across social media, triggering strong reactions from the Sikh community who viewed them as disrespectful to their religious symbols and scriptures.
Director’s Official Response
Aditya Dhar took to social media to clarify that these controversial visuals were never part of Dhurandhar 2’s official promotional material. He stressed that the images were AI-generated and completely fake.
The director reassured audiences that the film maintains respect for all religious and cultural sensitivities. He urged fans and the public not to fall for manipulated content and to rely only on official updates from the production team.
Growing Concern Over AI-Generated Misinformation
This incident highlights a growing problem in the entertainment industry — the spread of AI-generated fake promotional material. Such doctored content can damage a film’s reputation and hurt community sentiments before official clarifications emerge.
Dhurandhar 2 continues to generate buzz for its espionage thriller storyline, and the production team has emphasized that only materials shared through verified official channels should be trusted.