Aditya Dhar has released an official response on his Instagram handle after members of the Sikh community raised objections to certain promotional materials and scenes. The police complaint which ‘Sikhs in Maharashtra’ filed at Mulund station on March 17 2024 claimed that the film disrespected religious beliefs.
The controversy began when people circulated a viral image that showed Ranveer Singh’s character Jaskirat smoking while he wore a turban. Dhar explained that the image was created through artificial intelligence and he declared that it does not appear in the movie or any official marketing materials. Dhar established that he would initiate legal procedures against anyone who continues to distribute altered content which he described as fake material.
The scene which shows R. Madhavan’s character smoking a cigarette while he recites sacred verses from the Dasam Granth created a conflict between both parties. Madhavan tested his solution in a video where he demonstrated how he extinguished the cigarette before performing his lines to achieve smoke-free results during the recitation. Dhar dedicated himself to “utmost sensitivity, dignity, and responsibility” for every film scene which protected the entire character portrayal from the movie.
Dhar showed his respect toward the Sikh community by personally visiting the Golden Temple before each movie premiere. He issued an official statement on March 26 2026 which showed his deepest respect for the Sikh community while the team planned to show authentic community representation through their work.
The filmmakers have asked viewers to remain cautious about false information and to enforce severe penalties against anyone who knowingly spreads deceptive materials.
