What was meant to be a light moment on stage has slowly turned into a talking point across Bollywood.

It began when Zakir Khan took the stage at the Screen Awards 2026 and made a sharp comment about the success of Dhurandhar and its sequel.

“Kitne hi congratulatory post aap daal de… magar sach toh yeh hai ke Dhurandhar se sabki jali toh hai,” he said, suggesting that the film’s success had quietly upset many in Bollywood.

The comment quickly travelled beyond the stage.

Soon after, filmmaker Siddharth Anand appeared to respond online. Without naming Zakir, he defended Mumbai’s film circles, writing, “Juhu - Bandra peeps have given all ATBBs… You have to be a real duffer to undermine their contribution.”

Many saw this as a direct reply to the comedian’s line about “smoke between Bandra and Juhu”, which itself referenced the film’s backdrop tied to Lyari.

Online, reactions were divided. Some felt the filmmaker’s post only strengthened the comedian’s point. Others argued the industry was being unfairly targeted.

Actor Ameesha Patel also stepped in, pushing back more directly. “Dude, stop spreading NEGATIVITY! film industry has valued and respected DHURANDHAR!” she wrote, adding that major stars have delivered hits for decades and will continue to do so.

At the centre of all this is Ranveer Singh-led Dhurandhar franchise, directed by Aditya Dhar. 

The first film earned around Rs 1300 crore worldwide, while Dhurandhar 2 has crossed Rs 1000 crore in India, setting new records.