Aditya Dhar Wins Dhurandhar Defamation Case, Bombay High Court Records Opponent’s Apology for ‘Thief’ Remark

While Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge was dominating the box office and creating new records, the director Aditya Dhar filed a suit seeking relief against defamatory allegations made by filmmaker Santosh Kumar during a March 30 press conference. He allegedly referred to filmmaker Aditya Dhar as a “chor” or “thief” pertaining to the script of 2026’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge.

After months, the legal storm around has finally concluded for good with a dramatic climbdown in the Bombay High Court. Dhar scores a legal win in Dhurandhar Row as Bombay HC recorded an apology over the remarks. Here’s a peek into the case.

Aditya Dhar vs Santosh Kumar: What Was the Dhurandhar Defamation Case About?

 

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In an order dated April 30, 2026, Justice Arif S. Doctor recorded that defendant Santosh Kumar had formally apologised for his statements allegedly referring to filmmaker Aditya Dhar as a “chor” or “thief”. The matter had reached the Bombay High Court after Dhar filed a suit seeking relief against the defamatory allegations. Senior advocate Dr. Birendra Saraf, briefed by DSK legal, appearing for Dhar, told the Bombay High Court that the director was willing to resolve the matter provided the defendant refrained from making per se defamatory statements.

Over the months, the battle heated up and reached the final hearing. Counsel for Santosh Kumar tendered an unconditional apology before the court. He undertook that no defamatory remarks would be made against Dhar in the future. The court then noted that Dhar, in light of the apology, did not wish to pursue damages further and accepted the apology, leading to the disposal of the suit. As a result, Aditya Dhar walks away with a legal win. 

For the unversed, the spy thriller has transformed into a massive event and is the kind of large-canvas Hindi action epic carrying the legacy of Indian cinema. The legal battle has paradoxically fed into the sense that Dhurandhar is becoming bigger than a movie. Even months later, after its much-awaited release, the film is performing well at the box office.