{
  "id": 380765,
  "title": "‘How can being Indian be seen as wrong?’: Madhavan on Dhurandhar, Rocketry criticisms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/how-can-being-indian-be-seen-as-wrong-madhavan-on-dhurandhar-rocketry",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-09T13:41:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/madhavan-dhurandhar-rocketry-propaganda-controversy-reaction-interview-10824931/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Actor R Madhavan defended his roles in the Indian spy-action films Dhurandhar (2025) and its sequel Dhurandhar: The Revenge (2026), which have been criticized for allegedly whitewashing government shortcomings. Madhavan, who played a key character in the franchise, stated that everyone is shaped by their upbringing and that he has always praised the positive contributions of individuals, regardless of their political affiliations. When asked about the term \"overly Indian,\" Madhavan questioned why being proud of his nationality would be seen as a negative thing. He emphasized that the films were set in Pakistan and depicted both the good and bad aspects of Indian society, so he did not see any propaganda in the movies. Madhavan also clarified that he is committed to portraying historical figures and events accurately, without altering their personal beliefs or practices based on his own opinions.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "R Madhavan defends roles in Dhurandhar films.",
    "Criticized for whitewashing government shortcomings.",
    "Questions why being Indian is seen as wrong."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}