Haq Director Suparn Varma Supports Violence in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, Citing Cinematic Freedom

Filmmaker Suparn S Varma, fresh off the critical and commercial success of his courtroom drama Haq, has publicly defended Aditya Dhar’s upcoming action thriller Dhurandhar against criticism over its reported violent content, urging audiences to stop “beating down” Indian directors for stylistic choices routinely celebrated in global cinema. In a strongly worded social media post and subsequent interview on Wednesday, Varma accused sections of viewers of applying a hypocritical double standard that condemns homegrown filmmakers while applauding similar violence in Hollywood classics.

Varma cited iconic international films such as Brian De Palma’s Scarface, the recent Telugu blockbuster Marco, and Martin Scorsese’s filmography as examples of celebrated works that embrace graphic violence as part of their cinematic language. “Everything is beautiful, so is violence,” he said, arguing that aesthetic brutality has long been a legitimate tool for storytelling worldwide. He questioned why Indian directors like Dhar—known for the 2019 war epic Uri: The Surgical Strike—are being preemptively criticized for exploring intense action when foreign counterparts face no such backlash.

The debate erupted after the first-look posters and leaked stills of Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh in a gritty avatar, hinted at high-octane, visceral sequences. Some online commentators labelled the film “excessively violent” even before its trailer release, prompting Varma’s sharp response. He emphasized the need for creative freedom, stating that audiences should respect each filmmaker’s unique lens rather than impose selective moral policing that stifles diverse genres.

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Varma’s intervention has sparked wider discussion within the industry about evolving audience maturity and the acceptance of hard-hitting action in mainstream Hindi cinema. As Dhurandhar gears up for release, the controversy has inadvertently heightened anticipation, with supporters arguing that bold, unapologetic storytelling is essential for Indian cinema to compete globally. The director of Haq concluded by calling for an end to “beating down our own filmmakers,” insisting that artistic risk-taking deserves encouragement rather than premature condemnation

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