All posts tagged: propaganda

Maharashtra ATS questions 66 people in Pune over suspected links with Bhatti

Maharashtra ATS questions 66 people in Pune over suspected links with Bhatti

Published by Webster

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Tuesday questioned 66 people in Pune district after they were allegedly found to have been in contact with Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti and his associates, reported the PTI. According to the ATS, the operation began at 7 am and was carried out with the assistance of Pune City Police, Pune Rural Police and Pimpri Chinchwad Police. The ATS said it suspects that Bhatti used social media platforms to attempt to radicalise Indian youths and encourage them to take part in anti-national activities. Bhatti, along with his associates Abid Jatt alias Abid Chhal, Ajmal Gujar, Hammad Memon, Rana Hunain and Ashraf Bashir Alam, allegedly used social media platforms to establish contact with Indian youths, according to the ATS. Investigators alleged that Bhatti and his associates established contact with young people in India through platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and WhatsApp, as per the PTI. Social media allegedly used to recruit youths According to the ATS, the group allegedly attempted to exploit religious and socially sensitive issues to spread propaganda and …

‘Propaganda against a senior actor’: Sonu Mishra exits controversial film Kala Hiran amid Salman Khan’s legal battle

‘Propaganda against a senior actor’: Sonu Mishra exits controversial film Kala Hiran amid Salman Khan’s legal battle

Published by Parlour News

The controversy surrounding Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy has taken another turn just days before its proposed release. As the legal battle over the film continues, actor Sonu Mishra has publicly explained why he chose to walk away from the project. His remarks come at a time when Salman Khan is reportedly seeking to stop the film’s release, claiming it misuses his identity and harms his reputation. Sonu Mishra quits Salman Khan’s blackbuck case-inspired Kala Hiran. Speaking to ANI, Sonu Mishra said he initially believed the project would present a narrative that supported Salman Khan. However, his opinion changed once he understood the direction the film was taking. Sonu Mishra says creative differences led to his exit “I was supposed to portray the character of Salman Khan. When I realised that the film had been made to tarnish the name of a superstar and the reputation of Rajasthan’s culture, my ethics didn’t allow me to be a part of the propaganda against a senior actor. Following creative differences with makers, I decided to distance …

Namashi Chakraborty has a stern message for those calling his film on RSS, Aakhri Sawal, ‘propaganda’

Namashi Chakraborty has a stern message for those calling his film on RSS, Aakhri Sawal, ‘propaganda’

Published by Parlour News

The upcoming Hindi film Aakhri Sawal held a special screening in New Delhi, attended by actors, political dignitaries, and members of the film fraternity. The film, based on 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has been labelled propaganda ahead of its release by a section of social media, and actor Namashi Chakraborty took exception to that. Namashi Chakraborty in a still from Aakhri Sawal. Namashi Chakraborty on calling Aakhri Sawal propaganda The film, which stars Sanjay Dutt in the lead, saw the support cast, including Namashi, Sameera Reddy, Tridha Choudhary, and Neetu Chandra, at the special screening in Delhi on Wednesday. The screening was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta along with several other political dignitaries. Talking to the media and guests after the screening, Namashi addressed the propaganda charge and said, “Everyone has their own point of view. But no one should call the film propaganda without watching it. The film teaches how to form your own opinion. It’s not only important to ask questions, but also to listen to answers.” …

‘What is wrong with propaganda films’: Javed Akhtar defends films ‘propagating ideas’, admits he loved Dhurandhar

‘What is wrong with propaganda films’: Javed Akhtar defends films ‘propagating ideas’, admits he loved Dhurandhar

Published by Parlour News

Legendary lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar has taken offence to the term ‘propaganda films’, saying all films have the right to propagate ideas, while expressing praise for Dhurandhar, the Aditya Dhar directorial that has battled this tag ever since release. Javed Akhtar has praised Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar. Javed Akhtar on ‘propaganda films’ While attending an award function in Kolkata on Sunday, the veteran writer interacted with the media, where he was asked his opinion about ‘propaganda films like Dhurandhar’. Using his trademark sharp wit, Javed Akhtar responded, “I don’t know what you mean by propaganda films. I loved Dhurandhar, which was an excellent film. I loved the first one more than the second one.” The veteran screenwriter-turned-lyricist added that one cannot label a film propaganda just because it does not suit a section of the audience. “Every story takes some stand, but does it become propaganda because the narrative isn’t suited to a section of the audience? Everyone has the right to propagate their ideas. What is wrong with propaganda films? The task of every filmmaker is …

Javed Akhtar praises Aditya Dhar-Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar, asks, ‘What is wrong with propaganda?’ | Bollywood News

Javed Akhtar praises Aditya Dhar-Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar, asks, ‘What is wrong with propaganda?’ | Bollywood News

Published by Parlour News

2 min readBengaluruMay 4, 2026 09:29 AM IST Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar voiced his support for creative freedom, stating that every artist has the right to express and promote their ideas through their work. Javed Akhtar was addressing reporters after receiving a special award from a leading city-based jewellery brand for his achievements, when he was asked to share his views on recent films like Dhuandhar being labelled as propaganda movies. Addressing the debate around films being labelled as ‘propaganda,’ Javed Akhtar dismissed the rigid categorisation and told PTI, “I don’t know what you mean by propaganda films. I loved Dhurandhar, which was an excellent film. I loved the first one more than the second one.” He further elaborated that every story inherently reflects a certain viewpoint. “Every story takes some stand, but does it become propaganda because the narrative isn’t suited to a section of the audience? Everyone has the right to propagate his ideas. What is wrong with propaganda films? The task of every filmmaker is to present the truth,” he …

TMC will win 200+ seats, exit polls propaganda to influence share market: Mamata confident of win in Bengal

TMC will win 200+ seats, exit polls propaganda to influence share market: Mamata confident of win in Bengal

Published by Parlour News

West Bengal chief minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee is confident ahead of the counting day on May 4, saying her party is set to win more than 200 seats in the assembly elections 2026. She dismissed the exit poll predictions most of which gave BJP more seats than TMC and said that such forecasts are done to influence the share market. Repolling was held in 15 booths in West Bengal. “TMC will at least win 200-plus seats if not more”, said Mamata while speaking to party’s counting agents, urging them not to give importance to the “propaganda and campaign by the BJP and its allies. Two days before the counting, Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee held a meeting with all TMC counting agents. Track Bengal election 2026 LIVE Mamata reminded them of the past exit polls which had predicted a TMC loss as well. “Such exit polls have no value. The 2021 and 2024 exit polls were way off the mark. I think most such polls are meant to influence the share market,” the TMC …

Pakistan’s answer to Dhurandhar? All about film Mera Lyari, which Sindh minister called counter to ‘India’s propaganda’

Pakistan’s answer to Dhurandhar? All about film Mera Lyari, which Sindh minister called counter to ‘India’s propaganda’

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Lyari is a borough of Karachi that most Indians were unaware of till last year. It was the hugely successful Dhurandhar franchise that brought the Pakistani town to national prominence in India. In the 2000s, Lyari was a hotbed of gang activity, which forms the backdrop for Dhurandhar as it blends fact with fiction. And while the film has been hailed in India, across the border, the reception has been mixed. Many are miffed at how the film has presented Lyari as lawless and chaotic. A new film from Pakistan, called Mera Lyari, aims to ‘correct that wrong’. Ayesha Omar in a still from Mera Lyari. What is Mera Lyari? Written and directed by Abu Aleeha, Mera Lyari is a sports drama that focuses on the female football players from the historic Karachi borough. According to Dawn, it stars Ayesha Omar as a football coach who suffered a debilitating injury, ostensibly a result of domestic abuse. Having escaped Lyari, she returns to teach girls in the area how to play. The star cast also includes …

Rakesh Bedi hits back at propaganda claims around film

Rakesh Bedi hits back at propaganda claims around film

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Dhurandhar: The Revenge, directed by Aditya Dhar, has continued its extraordinary box-office journey, completing over a month in cinemas with an impressive hold. While the film has received an overwhelming response, a section of the audience is calling it propaganda. Rakesh Bedi, who recently impressed everyone with his role as Jameel Jamali in both Dhurandhar films, has now slammed audiences for terming it propaganda. Rakesh Bedi on Dhurandhar being called propaganda “It was timely—timely in the sense that for four, five, even ten days, you received comments, but people are saying something completely different. Even today, people are saying the shows are housefull. I went to a theatre in Delhi when the film had just released, and I asked a fan who was making hand gestures what he was doing—he said he had watched it ten times. The truth is hard to see and understand, and I would have considered it wrong only if they had exaggerated or shown something that never actually happened,” Rakesh Bedi told Zoom. Disclaimer: We do not own any of …

Rakesh Bedi shuns propaganda claims around Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar: ‘Film paise kama rahi hai toh digest nahi hua’

Rakesh Bedi shuns propaganda claims around Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar: ‘Film paise kama rahi hai toh digest nahi hua’

Published by Parlour News

Actor Ranveer Singh‘s Dhurandhar franchise has smashed box-office records, but the film has found itself at the centre of a growing debate, with a section of viewers branding it “propaganda”. Now, actor Rakesh Bedi, who has been earning praise for his portrayal of Jameel Jamali in the film, has dismissed the criticism. Dhurandhar 2, led by Ranveer Singh, was released on March 19. The actor has suggested that the backlash is driven more by jealousy than genuine concern, especially given the film’s roaring commercial success. Rakesh Bedi on propaganda label In an interview with Zoom, Rakesh came out in support of Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller, dismissing claims that the film carries a propaganda-driven narrative. He said, “It was timely. Timely matlab in the sense ki char din panch din das din aapke comments aaye but log toh kuch aur hi bol rahe hai. Log toh aaj bhi bol rahe hai ki housefull hai. I did a theatre in Delhi when the film first released and I asked one fan who was doing hand gestures what …

“Full of propaganda”: Maharashtra Opposition slams PM Modi’s address

“Full of propaganda”: Maharashtra Opposition slams PM Modi’s address

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The opposition in Maharashtra on Saturday strongly criticised Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi`s address to the nation, alleging that it was filled with “false claims” and that he made no mention of delinking delimitation from women`s reservation, news agency PTI reported. Congress leaders Harshwardhan Sapkal and Nana Patole, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) legislator Rohit Pawar, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said PM Modi`s speech for mainly focusing on attacking rival parties. Sapkal, who is the state Congress chief, claimed that the speech was full of “propaganda” and “false claims” targeting the Congress. In a statement, he said that instead of addressing key national issues, PM Modi devoted a significant portion of his 30-minute address to attacking the Congress, mentioning the party 58 times. Sapkal rejected the PM`s assertion that the Congress had opposed initiatives such as the JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) trinity and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). He said Aadhaar was launched in 2010 in Maharashtra`s Nandurbar under the leadership of former PM Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. …