‘Exploited life of martyr son’: Major Mohit Sharma’s family moves Delhi HC against film ‘Dhurandhar’
New Delhi, Nov 28 (LatestNewsX) – The relatives of Major Mohit Sharma, a posthumous Ashoka Chakra awardee, have petitioned the Delhi High Court to halt the forthcoming film “Dhurandhar.” They argue that the makers have built and promoted the movie by “exploiting” the life, character and military service of the decorated 1 Para officer without the family’s permission.
The writ, filed by 77‑year‑old Sushila Sharma and 75‑year‑old Rajendra Prasad Sharma, contends that the December 5 release is being marketed as “inspired by true events” and is closely tied to the late officer’s covert operations and his martyrdom.
According to the petition, the trailer, press tours and media commentary clearly link Ranveer Singh’s role to Major Sharma, who sacrificed his life during a counter‑terror mission in Kupwara on March 21, 2009.
Calling themselves “humble and grieving parents,” the petitioners say they were “deeply shaken” to discover that the defendants had “used, portrayed, fictionalised and commercially exploited” their son’s story “without seeking, obtaining, or even attempting to obtain” their consent.
“The real legal test is not whether the respondents verbally deny such linkage, but whether a reasonable, ordinary viewer – upon seeing the trailer, promotional material, character design, military background, operational storyline, visual portrayal and narrative – would unmistakably identify the protagonist with the real‑life decorated martyr,” the plea, drafted by advocates Roopenshu Pratap Singh and Manish Sharmaa, states.
The appeal raises core questions about Article 21, the dignity of the deceased, personality and biographical rights, and the government’s duty to prevent unauthorized and potentially distorted commercial exploitation of a national hero’s legacy.
Respondents named in the case include the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI), director Aditya Dhar and Jio Studios president Jyoti Deshpande.
The petition seeks a writ of mandamus that bars the film’s release, distribution or exhibition “in any manner whatsoever” until the family is shown the unedited version and their concerns are addressed.
They allege that depicting special‑forces operations, military insignia, counter‑terror missions, and a protagonist mirroring Major Sharma’s operational history demands the Army’s ADGPI to verify and grant a No‑Objection Clearance.
“In the absence of disclosure by the filmmakers, and considering the highly sensitive nature of the military content shown in the film, the petitioners apprehend that the respondents have proceeded without securing the required approvals,” the document asserts.
Expressing grave national‑security concerns, the petition notes that some of Major Sharma’s operations remain classified.
The family’s legal team argues that the unauthorized portrayal violates the posthumous dignity of the officer and the family’s Article 21 right to reputation.
They cite multiple mainstream and social‑media reports that identify Ranveer Singh’s character with Major Sharma, as well as other real‑world figures—such as Ajit Doval, Rehman Dakait, Ilyas Kashmiri and Karachi police officer Chaudhry Aslam Khan—underscoring a consistent reel‑to‑real pattern that indicates the film draws from actual persons.
As interim relief, the petition requests a complete stay on the film’s release, a private screening for the family, the production of the full script, raw footage and all promotional material before the court, and a temporary halt to all advertising and trailer dissemination.
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