Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, featuring Ranveer Singh in the lead, has stirred controversy after filmmaker Santosh Kumar RS alleged that the film is based on a script he wrote in 2023. Backing his claim with registration details and documents, the filmmaker has said he will be taking legal action.
Filmmaker says he identified similarities after watching the film
Santosh shared that he only realised the alleged overlap after watching the film, which has been performing strongly at the box office.“You all might have watched Dhurandhar 2. It is working very well everywhere. After watching the movie, I came to know that it is my script and story. I had written it with a lot of hard work in 2023. I had narrated it to many companies because I was told that if I need big actors in the film, there has to be a corporate organisation backing it,” he told the media.
Pitched to studios while developing the project
The filmmaker said he had taken the script to multiple production houses in an attempt to scale the project, including Sony Pictures, Zee Studios, T-Series and Dharma Productions.He also revealed that he had a different casting choice in mind during the early stages, naming Aditya Roy Kapur as his preferred lead.
‘I registered my story’ with Screenwriters Association
Santosh emphasised that his script had been officially registered and that he holds evidence to support his claim.“I tried a lot, and I had sent my story to many people. I am a member of the Screenwriters Association, and I registered my story there in November 2023,” he said.
‘My story has been exploited,’ says filmmaker
Reiterating his stance, Santosh said he plans to pursue the matter legally, even as he acknowledged the film’s success.“I am putting a case on this movie because even though they have made a good movie, my story has been exploited. I had written the film for cinema and entertainment, but they made it as political propaganda. It is hurting me,” he said.He further underlined that the issue extends beyond his personal experience. “What happened with me should not happen with anyone, and that’s why I will put my maximum effort to let people know about it,” he added.
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About the filmmaker and the film
As per his IMDb profile, Santosh Kumar RS hails from Thirthahalli in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district and has worked across roles as a director, writer and producer. He made his directorial debut with the Kannada film Campus Kranti (2023) and is currently working on Yuvan Robinhood, an upcoming pan-India action thriller slated for 2026. Meanwhile, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, directed by Aditya Dhar, also stars R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi and Sanjay Dutt in key roles. The film, which released on March 19, is now nearing the Rs 900 crore mark at the global box office.