R Madhavan Addresses ‘Sanghi’ Label, Questions Why Patriotism in Films Is Branded Propaganda

R Madhavan has addressed the political labels increasingly attached to him and his films, questioning why expressions of patriotism or stories centred on India's achievements are sometimes interpreted as political propaganda.

The actor spoke about being described as a “Sanghi”, criticism surrounding Dhurandhar and Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, and how he personally deals with political assumptions made about him.

Madhavan's response was not simply a defence of one film. His comments reflected a larger debate that has followed several recent Hindi films: where does patriotic storytelling end and political messaging begin?

Importantly, Madhavan also clarified his own position, saying he is not affiliated with a political party.

Madhavan responds to being called a ‘Sanghi’

Madhavan said his sense of patriotism comes from his upbringing and questioned why that should automatically be interpreted as evidence of a particular political affiliation.

He recalled growing up in an environment in which national identity and pride were strongly emphasised.

The actor indicated that being given labels such as “Sanghi” does not fundamentally change how he views himself. Instead, he said that when criticism genuinely affects him, he tries to understand the intention behind it.

His argument was essentially that pride in one's country and membership of a political organisation should not automatically be treated as the same thing.

Why Dhurandhar became part of the debate

The conversation cannot be separated from the reception of Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar.

The espionage drama, starring Ranveer Singh alongside Akshaye Khanna, Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and Sanjay Dutt, became one of the most discussed Hindi films following its release.

While the film achieved major commercial success, its political framing also attracted criticism from commentators and sections of the audience who characterised it as propaganda.

Madhavan rejected that interpretation.

He questioned why a film dealing with Indian sovereignty or presenting the country from a position of national pride should automatically be dismissed as propaganda.

The actor had addressed similar criticism earlier as well. Following Dhurandhar's release in December 2025, he argued that the “propaganda” narrative surrounding the film was weak and said audiences were responding primarily because they considered it an effective film.

Rocketry faced a different version of the same argument

Madhavan also connected the discussion with Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, his 2022 directorial debut based on the life of former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan.

The actor questioned how telling the story of an Indian scientist and his achievements could itself constitute propaganda.

His position on Rocketry is particularly interesting because Madhavan had spoken about propaganda from another angle when the film was originally released.

In a 2022 interview with The Indian Express, he argued that films about science and technology should primarily be supported by the film industry rather than the government. His reasoning was that direct government support could create the perception that a film was propaganda.

That earlier statement adds context to his current argument: Madhavan is not claiming that propaganda cannot exist in cinema. Rather, his present objection is to the automatic application of the label to stories that express national pride.

The criticism of Dhurandhar has not disappeared

It is equally important to acknowledge that Madhavan's defence represents one side of an ongoing debate.

Critics of Dhurandhar have argued that their objections are not simply about the film portraying India positively. Some have instead questioned particular political references, its treatment of historical events and what they see as ideological messaging embedded within the story.

Supporters of the film dispute that interpretation and view it primarily as a patriotic espionage thriller.

That disagreement cannot be resolved simply by calling either side “trolls”. Whether a film constitutes propaganda is ultimately an interpretive argument about its narrative choices, historical framing and political messaging.

Madhavan, however, has made his own position clear: he does not believe celebrating India or its achievements should automatically place an artist within a political camp.

The Celebrity Hour Take

There are two separate questions in this controversy, and combining them creates more heat than clarity.

The first is whether R Madhavan's personal patriotism establishes his political affiliation. Madhavan says it does not, and unless he publicly identifies himself with a political party or organisation, labels applied by social-media users should not be presented as established descriptions of his politics.

The second question - whether Dhurandhar contains propaganda is different. Films can legitimately be examined and criticised for their politics regardless of what their actors personally believe. Madhavan is entitled to reject the criticism, just as critics are entitled to analyse the film's ideological choices.

Separating those two debates makes his comments more meaningful than the viral “Sanghi” exchange alone.