The Film Critics' Guild, an association of critics, issued a statement this week condemning "the targeted attacks, harassment, and hate directed toward film critics for their reviews of Dhurandhar". In recent years, Indian cinema has seen a surge in nationalist blockbusters that openly reference government policies and historical events. "The film paints Pakistan as a lawless, almost barbaric land that's pathologically hostile towards India. It's not just in India - there have been mixed reactions to Dhurandhar in Pakistan too. Pakistan banned Indian films in 2019, while India frequently blocks Pakistani films and music.