The Delhi High Court on Monday disposed of a petition filed by the parents of late Major Mohit Sharma, Ashoka Chakra awardee, who sought an urgent stay on the release of the upcoming film Dhurandhar. The film, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, is scheduled to release on December 5.
Justice Sachin Datta declined to grant a stay at this stage, noting that the certification process is still pending before the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The Court directed the CBFC to consider the concerns raised by the petitioners before taking a final decision on certification and also asked the Board to examine whether the matter should be referred to the Indian Army’s expert body.
The petitioners argued that the film is not a case of vague resemblance but is directly inspired by the life, persona, undercover operations and martyrdom of Major Sharma, who was killed in a counter-terrorism operation in Kupwara in 2009. They contended that the trailer, character design, military setting and narrative unmistakably mirror his real-life story. According to them, such depiction without consent violates their son’s posthumous personality rights as well as their own right to privacy, dignity and reputation under Article 21 of the Constitution. They also pointed out that no prior permission or script vetting was sought from the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI), Indian Army.
Senior Advocate Saurabh Kirpal, appearing for the producers, submitted that the film is a work of fiction and not based on Major Sharma’s life. He distinguished the storyline by noting that Sharma was shot in Jammu, whereas the film is set in Pakistan and follows a fictional Indian Special Forces officer. Advocate Ashish Dixit, representing the CBFC, informed the Court that certification is under process and reiterated that the film is based on fiction.
The petition named the Union of India through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, CBFC, ADGPI, Indian Army, director and co-producer Aditya Dhar, Jio Studios and producer Jyoti Deshpande as respondents. Along with a stay on release, the petitioners had sought a private screening for the family prior to public release and a declaration that no film portraying a real military martyr may be released without authorisation from legal heirs and the Indian Army. The Court, while closing the plea, directed the CBFC to expedite its decision after considering the grievances raised.
