She quit her 9–5 to become a filmmaker. Now Shazia Iqbal faces backlash over Dhurandhar remarks

Director of Dhadak 2 goes private on Instagram as debate erupts over creative freedom and online outrage

---

Top Summary

• What happened: Filmmaker Shazia Iqbal faced online backlash after cryptic remarks widely linked to Dhurandhar.

• Why it matters now: The episode has reignited debates on creative freedom, dissent, and online trolling in Indian cinema.

• What changes for people: Iqbal made her Instagram account private as criticism intensified.

• Who is affected: Filmmakers, artists, and audiences navigating expression and backlash in the digital age.

---

What happened:

Filmmaker Shazia Iqbal, who made her feature directorial debut with Dhadak 2, is at the centre of a social media storm following remarks she shared about a recently watched film.

Though she did not name the film, her comments were widely interpreted as a critique of Dhurandhar, the Ranveer Singh–led blockbuster directed by Aditya Dhar. As screenshots of her Instagram stories circulated across platforms, the backlash escalated, prompting her to lock her profile.

---

Why it matters now:

The controversy highlights the growing volatility of online discourse in the film industry, where:

• Creative opinions are rapidly amplified

• Indirect criticism can trigger targeted outrage

• Social media becomes both a platform and a pressure point

As cinema increasingly intersects with ideology and identity, public commentary by filmmakers is under sharper scrutiny than ever.

---

What changes for people:

• Filmmakers may become more cautious about expressing views publicly

• Social media platforms continue to act as informal courts of opinion

• Industry conversations shift from art to intent, ideology, and interpretation

While some users defended Iqbal’s right to critique, others questioned her credibility and body of work, reflecting a deeply polarised response.

---

Who is affected:

• Independent filmmakers

• Women directors

• Artists engaging in political or social commentary

• Audiences consuming cinema discourse online

---

What did Shazia Iqbal say?

In a series of Instagram stories, Iqbal described the unnamed film as “sinister”, suggesting its messaging was deliberately provocative. She implied that the narrative promoted hatred and violence, despite being praised for its technical polish and background score.

Within hours, the posts were linked to Dhurandhar, triggering a wave of criticism and trolling across Instagram and X.

---

From architecture to cinema: Who is Shazia Iqbal?

Shazia Iqbal’s path to filmmaking was anything but conventional.

Trained as an architect, she has spoken openly about her discomfort with a traditional 9–5 desk job. During her internship days, she realised that a routine office career was not for her, even though cinema was not initially her goal.

Her entry into films came through production design, inspired by a college seminar exploring the relationship between architectural spaces and cinematic worlds. She later worked on major projects, including Sacred Games, before gradually moving into writing and direction.

---

Dhadak 2 and her filmmaking lens

Iqbal’s directorial debut, Dhadak 2, starred Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri. The film was a remake of the Tamil classic Pariyerum Perumal.

Co-produced by Zee Studios, Dharma Productions, and Cloud 9 Pictures, the film tackled themes of caste, identity, and social inequality.

While it received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office, it established Iqbal as a director drawn to socially driven narratives.

---

A larger debate inside Bollywood

The Dhurandhar episode has reopened uncomfortable questions:

• Where does creative critique end and offence begin?

• Are filmmakers allowed ideological disagreement without backlash?

• Does online outrage silence nuanced voices?

For many in the industry, the incident reflects a climate where expression carries immediate reputational risk.