1 hour agoEntertainment
40LENS
8 SourcesKarachi, Pakistan
thebalanced.newsJaved Akhtar Defends Dhurandhar Films Amid Propaganda Debate
Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar defended the Dhurandhar film series amid claims of it being propaganda. Speaking at an award event, he stated that every story reflects a viewpoint and questioned the negative connotation of propaganda, emphasizing filmmakers' right to present their version of truth. Akhtar praised Dhurandhar, preferring the first installment, and noted that all films carry underlying ideologies shaped by societal values, making complete neutrality difficult.
Political Bias
21%74%5%
Sentiment
66%
AI Analysis
Political bias across 8 sources
● Left 21%● Center 74%● Right 5%
The articles primarily present Javed Akhtar's perspective supporting creative freedom and rejecting the propaganda label on Dhurandhar films. While some sources mention criticism of the films for allegedly glorifying a political administration, the coverage focuses on Akhtar's defense without endorsing or opposing political viewpoints. The framing remains centered on artistic expression and differing audience interpretations.
Sentiment — Positive (66/100)
The overall tone across the articles is neutral to positive, highlighting Akhtar's praise for the Dhurandhar films and his reasoned response to propaganda accusations. While acknowledging controversy, the coverage avoids sensationalism and presents Akhtar's views as a measured defense, resulting in a balanced and respectful sentiment.
How 4 sources covered this story
Each source's own headline, political lean, and sentiment — so you can see framing differences at a glance.
| Source | Their headline | Bias | Sentiment |
|---|---|---|---|
| timesnow | Javed Akhtar Defends Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar, Questions 'What's Wrong With Propaganda Films?' | Center | Neutral |
| indiatvnews | Javed Akhtar supports Dhurandhar amid criticism, questions criticism around propaganda films | Center | Positive |
| economictimes | 'What is wrong with propaganda films?': Javed Akhtar backs Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar amid debate. Says he preferred first one over Dhurandhar 2 | Center | Positive |
| ndtv | Javed Akhtar On i Dhurandhar i Being Labelled A 'Propaganda' Film: "The Task Of Every Filmmaker Is To Present The Truth" | Center | Positive |
Coverage timeline
ndtv broke this story on 3 May, 06:08 pm. Other outlets followed.
- 1ndtv3 May, 06:08 pmJaved Akhtar On i Dhurandhar i Being Labelled A 'Propaganda' Film: "The Task Of Every Filmmaker Is To Present The Truth"
- 2economictimes4 May, 01:55 am'What is wrong with propaganda films?': Javed Akhtar backs Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar amid debate. Says he preferred first one over Dhurandhar 2
- 3indiatvnews4 May, 02:55 amJaved Akhtar supports Dhurandhar amid criticism, questions criticism around propaganda films
- 4timesnow4 May, 03:02 amJaved Akhtar Defends Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar, Questions 'What's Wrong With Propaganda Films?'
Lens Score breakdown
40/100
Public interest25/100
Coverage gap100%
Story is receiving appropriate media attention relative to public interest.
Who's involved
Institutions and figures named across source coverage.
Corporate
B62 StudiosJio StudiosLeading City-Based Jewellery Brand
Story context
- Category
- Entertainment
- Location
- Karachi, Pakistan
- Sources analysed
- 8
- Last analysed
- 4 May 2026
- Key entities
- Javed AkhtarPropagandaFilmmakingLyricistAkshaye KhannaArjun RampalR. MadhavanSanjay DuttCroreIndian rupeePropaganda filmRanveer Singh
Related Coverage
Select a news story to see related coverage from other media outlets.