The new relationship being formed between the Hindi film industry and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has once again created a stir. In the latest development, actor Ranveer Singh’s arrival in Nagpur and meeting Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat is not being considered just a courtesy call, but deep political and cultural meanings are being extracted from it. At the time when his film ‘Dhurandhar-2 The Revenge’ is creating history by earning more than a thousand crores worldwide, at the same time this meeting is also raising many questions.
Ranveer Singh’s style was completely changed in Nagpur. Dressed in white kurta pajama, he reached the Sangh headquarters directly from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport. In this meeting which lasted for about one and a half hour, he not only discussed his film but also got information about the working and service activities of the Sangh. After this, he went to Dr. Hedgewar Memorial Temple in Reshimbag and paid tribute to the founders of the Sangh, Dr. KB Hedgewar and MS Golwalkar.
But the real storm arose on social media. Critics directly linked this meeting to an attempt to term ‘Dhurandhar 2’ as RSS propaganda. Many people even called it a Thanksgiving trip. Questions began to arise whether the film is just entertainment or is there some ideological agenda working behind it?
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Amidst these allegations, film director Sandeep Reddy Vanga took the lead and openly attacked the opponents. He said in sharp words that the same people who were making career from publicity based films for years are now targeting ‘Dhurandhar 2’. He clearly said that calling the truth propaganda is the biggest deception of today and to end this mentality, we will not have to take half-hearted steps but will have to respond with full force.
This controversy does not stop here. This step of Ranveer Singh has come at a time when the Sangh is busy increasing dialogue with the film industry on the occasion of its centenary. Recently Salman Khan attended the centenary celebrations held in Mumbai, where Mohan Bhagwat talked about the influence of film stars on the youth. Karan Johar also praised the dialogue, calling Mohan Bhagwat an impressive and interesting speaker. It is clear that the Sangh now wants to further strengthen its reach in the cultural sector.
Let us also remind you that Ranveer Singh has already communicated with the top of power. During his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, he had said that films can become not just entertainment but a medium to unite the country. He had also associated his film Tiraasi, released in 2021, with the same sentiment, where people from different parts of the country come together and make India proud. Now his success with ‘Dhurandhar 2’ and his association with the Sangh seems to be further strengthening this thinking.
If seen, while the unmatched success of ‘Dhurandhar 2’ has taken Ranveer Singh to the pinnacle, this meeting has also brought him to the center of controversies. Supporters are calling it a positive step towards dialogue and cultural integration, while opponents are considering it a dangerous sign. Questions are being raised on social media whether Hindi cinema is now openly moving towards ideological polarization? Are actors and filmmakers now becoming representatives of ideology and not just artists?
However, this story is not over yet. Ranveer Singh, his films and his association with the Sangh can write a new script for the relationship between Hindi cinema and politics in the times to come. And this is the reason why this whole incident is not just news, but the knock of a changing era which is now impossible to ignore.