Family of Late Major Mohit Sharma has approached the Delhi High Court seeking to stop the release of the film ‘Dhurandhar’. They claim the movie was made “without obtaining permission from either the Indian Army or his family.”
The parents of Late Major Mohit Sharma, an Ashoka Chakra and Sena Medal awardee, have approached the Delhi High Court with a petition seeking an urgent halt to the upcoming film ‘Dhurandhar,’ starring Ranvir Singh.
The petition asserts that the film appears to be heavily inspired by Major Sharma’s life, undercover activities, and martyrdom, created without obtaining permission from either the Indian Army or his family.
According to the petition, significant elements of Major Sharma’s life, including his covert counter-terrorism operations in Kashmir, are reflected in the movie’s trailer and promotional content.
The family highlights that while media reports and online discussions have linked ‘Dhurandhar’ to Major Sharma, the filmmakers have neither acknowledged these connections nor consulted the family.
The petitioners argue that a martyr should not be treated as a commercial product and that his story cannot be adapted for profit without respect, dignity, and proper authorization.
They contend that this unauthorized representation infringes on the martyr’s posthumous personality rights under Article 21 of the Constitution, as well as their own rights to privacy and dignity.
Additionally, the petition raises concerns about national security, claiming that the movie appears to disclose sensitive military tactics, infiltration strategies, and operational procedures without any evidence of permission from the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI), the entity overseeing the portrayal of the Indian Army in media.
The petition names numerous respondents, including the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Central Board of Film Certification, ADGPI, film director and co-producer Aditya Dhar, and producer Jio Studios.
The family is requesting that the Court prevent the film’s release and mandate a private viewing for Major Sharma’s family prior to its public debut. They further seek a ruling that requires filmmakers to obtain permission from the martyr’s legal heirs and the Army before releasing any film that depicts a real-life military martyr.
Advocate Roopenshu Pratap Singh of Samaanta Law Firm (SLF) is representing the family. The case is expected to be listed for a hearing next week.