Dhurandhar & 12 Others: Gulf Nations Block Indian Films for Political, Cultural Reasons

• Aditya Dhar's "Dhurandhar" was blocked in six Gulf nations (Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE) over alleged anti-Pakistan messaging.
• Many Bollywood films have been denied release in the Middle East due to strict censorship, political sensitivities, or cultural concerns.
• Recent films like "Fighter," "Article 370," and "Tiger 3" faced bans due to pro-military narratives, political messaging, or portrayal of certain characters.
• Older films such as "Padmaavat," "Rang De Basanti," "The Dirty Picture," and "Delhi Belly" were banned for cultural concerns, explicit content, or controversial themes.

Why It Matters: Gulf censorship impacts film access and global strategies for Indian cinema.