R Madhavan clears the smoke over cigarette scene in Dhurandhar: ‘Intent was never to hurt anyone’

Bollywood fans were recently abuzz when a clip from R Madhavan’s latest thriller, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, triggered debate online. The scene in question shows Madhavan’s character, Ajay Sanyal, reciting a verse from the Dasam Granth while holding a cigarette. Some viewers felt this was disrespectful to the Sikh community.

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Taking to Instagram, Madhavan addressed the concern head-on. “On behalf of the Dhurandhar family, thank you for showering us with so much love. Recently, we learned that some people were hurt by the scene where I recite lines from Guru Gobind Singh’s Dasam Granth while having a cigarette. I assure you, that is absolutely not the case,” Madhavan wrote.

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Clearing the smoke: what really happened

Madhavan explained that the situation was a simple misunderstanding. He revealed that director Aditya Dhar, known for his meticulous attention to detail, instructed him to extinguish the cigarette well before reciting the sacred lines.

“No smoke would come out of my mouth, there would be no smoke on screen, and I wouldn’t even have a cigarette in my hand,” Madhavan clarified.

The actor reassured fans that if they watch the scene carefully, they will notice there is no smoke at all, not from his mouth, not anywhere in the frame, and no trace remains by the end of the scene. “We are very aware of the sensitivities, and hurting anyone was never our intention,” he emphasised.

Respect for Sikh values

Madhavan also stressed the filmmakers’ deep respect for the Sikh community. “We stand with the entire Sikh community and honor their values. I personally visit the Golden Temple before every film release. This is known to everyone, and I hope people trust our intentions,” he added.

He further clarified that the cigarette is a part of his character’s persona. Ajay Sanyal, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, is portrayed as a meticulous and intense officer whose habits include smoking.

The clip circulated widely online, with fans debating whether the scene was offensive or harmless. Some voiced concerns, while many others defended Madhavan.