Tech pioneer and Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia has sparked a massive online debate after scathingly criticizing the Bollywood blockbuster Dhurandhar. In a viral video review shared on February 24, 2026, Bhatia labeled the film “disgusting,” accusing it of lacking intellectual substance and prioritizing “senseless killings” over meaningful storytelling. His comments come as the film, starring Ranveer Singh, dominates the global box office with a staggering ₹1,300 crore collection while preparing for its highly anticipated sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge.
Bhatia’s critique centered on the psychological impact of modern cinema. “Movies today aren’t made to emotionally empower you. They’re engineered to trigger you,” he stated in his caption. In the video, he questioned the “intellectual component” of the Aditya Dhar directorial, arguing that it paints “entire countries and institutions with a broad brush” and spreads a message of pure revenge. He urged the younger generation to be “logical thinkers” rather than “emotional reactors,” calling for a total rejection of the film.
The tech entrepreneur’s remarks have divided the internet, reigniting the conversation around nationalism and entertainment in Indian cinema. While some users praised Bhatia for calling out “propaganda” and “gratuitous violence,” others dismissed his take as being “out of touch” with the reality of commercial filmmaking.
- Bhatia’s Stance: “I don’t think there is any entertainment in watching senseless killings… It promotes a certain line of thinking that is terrible.”
- Public Reaction: Critics on social media countered by pointing to Hollywood’s history of action-driven narratives, while others accused Bhatia of “pontificating” from the United States.
- Director’s Silence: As of now, director Aditya Dhar has not officially responded to Bhatia’s viral critique.
Despite the controversy, Dhurandhar remains a cultural juggernaut. The film, which follows an Indian spy infiltrating a gang in Pakistan’s Lyari, became the first Bollywood film to join the ₹800 crore club and is currently the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time. The sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, is slated for an Eid release on March 19, 2026, where it will face a massive box office clash with Yash’s Toxic.
Bhatia’s call for a “wholehearted rejection” of the franchise highlights a growing friction between the tech-intellectual community and the creators of high-octane “spy-verse” thrillers. Whether this “disgust” impacts the sequel’s opening remains to be seen, but the discourse has certainly added a new layer of tension to the film’s promotional cycle.
Key Highlights:
- Tech Mogul’s Critique: Hotmail founder Sabeer Bhatia called the film Dhurandhar “disgusting,” claiming it lacks intellectual depth and spreads hate.
- Message to Youth: Bhatia urged the younger generation to reject the film, warning that it encourages “senseless killings” and emotional reactivity over logical thinking.
- Box Office Context: The criticism comes despite the film’s record-breaking ₹1,300 crore global collection and its status as the highest-grossing Hindi film ever.
- Sequel Looming: The controversy unfolds just weeks before the release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which is set to hit theaters on March 19, 2026.