Dhurandhar 2: R Madhavan Reacts To Smoking Scene Hurting Sikh Sentiments; Says 'It's Very Pure & Sacred For Us

R Madhavan has responded to objections over a smoking scene in Dhurandhar 2, stressing that no disrespect towards the Sikh community was intended. The actor said the cigarette was put out before verses from Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Dasam Granth were spoken on screen, and pointed out that no smoke is visible in the shot that has drawn criticism.

Madhavan addressed the matter after some Sikh groups said the scene in the Aditya Dhar-directed film hurt religious sentiments linked to Gurbani. The complaints centre on a sequence where Madhavan's character is shown with a cigarette while speaking lines from the Dasam Granth. The actor said the team took care to avoid any visual link between smoking and the recitation.

Dhurandhar 2 Smoking Scene Controversy

Madhavan released a video clarification on Instagram, speaking on behalf of the Dhurandhar 2 team. In the clip, the actor first thanked audiences for the strong response to the film and then directly addressed the concerns raised by members of the Sikh community about the disputed scene.

Madhavan said, "Namaskar main hoon R Madhavan. Dhurandhar ke poore parivar ke aur se aap logo ka bohot bohot dhanyawad, aa logo ne hamare film ko itna pyar dikhaya. Hume samajh nahi aa raha hum apne aapko kese prakat karein. Haal hi mein hume pta chala hai ki kuch logo ko iss baat se takleef hui hai ki iss film ke ek scene mein Guru Gobind Singh ji ke dassam granth se kuch line bolte waqt mene ciggarette smoking kiya hai aur iss scene se unhe thens pohachi hai."

"(Hello, I am R Madhavan. On behalf of the entire Dhurandhar team, I thank you all very much. You have shown so much love for our film that we are overwhelmed and don't know how to express ourselves. Recently, we learned that some people were hurt that in one scene of the film, I was smoking a cigarette while reciting lines from Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Dasam Granth.)"

R Madhavan Reacts To Hurting Sikh Sentiments

In the same message, Madhavan described how director Aditya Dhar planned the shot to avoid showing smoke or a lit cigarette during the recitation. The actor said the team treated the verses as sacred and followed specific instructions while filming to maintain that respect on camera.

Madhavan stated, "Mujhe poora yakeen hai ki iss scene ke dauran, bolne se pehle, Aditya Dhar ji ne, jo mujhse zyada khayal rakhte hai in sab chizo ka, unhone mujhse kaha tha ki ye line bolte waqt, isse bohot pehle aap cigarette bhuja dijiyega aur aapke mooh se nahi dhuan nikalega, nahi screen pe kahi dhuan dikhaya jaega, na hi aapke haath me cigarette hogi kyunki hamare liye bohot hi paak aur pavitra hai."

"(I am certain that during this scene, before delivering the lines, Aditya Dhar, who takes more care of these things than I do, told me to put out the cigarette well in advance. He said no smoke would come out of my mouth, no smoke would appear on screen, and there would be no cigarette in my hand because it is very pure and sacred for us.)"

The actor also underlined long-standing personal ties with Sikh religious practices, mentioning that visits to the Golden Temple are a regular part of work life. Madhavan said these visits usually take place before every film release, including Dhurandhar 2, and are known among colleagues and followers.

Madhavan added, "Poori sikh community ke sath hum hain, hamesha rahenge aur unka bohot aadar karte hain. Infact har film ke release se pehle mein khud hi Golden temple jata hoon, ye sabko pta hai. To ab kisi ko jaane anjaane me bura laga hai to maaf kijiyega, humne yakeenan ye kaam nahi kiya hai. Khush rahiye aur happy dhurandhar 2 all of you (We are with the entire Sikh community, always have been, and we have immense respect for them. In fact, before every film release, I personally visit the Golden Temple, as everyone knows. So if anyone was hurt knowingly or unknowingly, please forgive us. I assure you this was never our intention. Stay happy and enjoy Dhurandhar 2)."

FIR Against Dhurandhar 2 Team

The disagreement escalated beyond social media posts when Sikh representative Gurjyot Singh Keer raised an official complaint. Keer, who leads the Sikhs in Maharashtra organisation and is associated with the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), said the portrayal linked a cigarette with sacred writings from Guru Gobind Singh, which community members considered offensive.

Following these objections, Money Control reported that police registered an FIR against the filmmakers of Dhurandhar 2 in connection with the smoking scene controversy. The report said the complaint mentioned the verse from the Dasam Granth and argued that the depiction had caused hurt to religious feelings among sections of the Sikh community.

Dhurandhar 2 reached cinemas on 19 March and is directed by Aditya Dhar. The film features an ensemble cast, including Ranveer Singh, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi and Arjun Rampal, with Madhavan playing a key role in the storyline that now sits at the centre of the debate.

While the creative choices are under scrutiny, Madhavan has kept the focus on dialogue with viewers and affected groups. The actor has repeatedly stressed that the production team respects Sikh beliefs and that removing visible smoke from the disputed scene was a deliberate decision made during filming.

The report is written by Ritika Kumar, who has worked in journalism for more than fifteen years across print and digital media. Ritika has reported on general news, lifestyle and entertainment, and is known for combining clear writing with close observation for varied audiences.

Ritika holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, along with a postgraduate diploma from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media in Bangalore. Earlier roles at The Times of India, Press Trust of India, NDTV and the Malayala Manorama Group helped Ritika gain experience across different news beats and formats.

Outside newsroom work, Ritika writes and reads poetry, drawing influence from poets such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz and T.S. Eliot. Ritika also follows cinema closely, from performances to visual style, and often finds creative ideas while travelling and spending time outdoors, especially while watching sunsets and reflecting on everyday life.

The current controversy around Dhurandhar 2 now rests on how authorities assess the FIR and how community representatives respond to Madhavan's clarification. For now, the actor maintains that the film avoided showing any smoke during the recital, that the Sikh community remains deeply respected by the team, and that any hurt caused was unintentional.