The recently held Screen Awards 2026 in Mumbai has found itself at the centre of multiple controversies, and the latest involves comedian Zakir Khan and his remarks about the blockbuster success of Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge.
Zakir, who was hosting the event alongside Alia Bhatt and Sunil Grover, made a joke suggesting that, despite public praise, many people in the film industry were secretly jealous of the film's success. On stage, he said, “Kitne hi congratulatory post aap daal de… magar sach toh yeh hai ke Dhurandhar se sabki jali toh hai,” implying that the film's massive run had sparked envy within Bollywood.
He followed it up with another line that caught attention: “Film mein bomb phoote Lyari mein aur yahan dhuaa udaa Bandra se Juhu mein.” The comment hinted that while the action was on screen, the “real reaction” was happening within Mumbai's film circles.
Although meant as a light-hearted joke, it didn't go down well with several members of the industry.
Actress Ameesha Patel was among the first to react, calling out the tone of the remark. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “DUDE-Stop spreading NEGATIVITY! Film industry has valued n respected DHURANDHAR! Superstars like SRK, SALMAN, SUNNY, HRITHIK, AJAY etc have given not just 1 but 25 plus mega hits n will continue to do so. CHILL—Gadar bahut saalon se sabne already machai hain aur aage bhi machaayenge.”
ALSO READ: Zakir Khan Roasts Bollywood Over Dhurandhar 2 Buzz At Screen Awards 2026
Pathaan Director Siddharth Anand also criticised the comment, defending the contribution of Bollywood's core industry. In his post, he stated, “Juhu – Bandra peeps have given all ATBB's since the past 50 years. You have to be a real duffer to undermine their contribution.”
The controversy comes at a time when Dhurandhar 2 is enjoying a historic box office run.
Starring Ranveer Singh along with R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and Sanjay Dutt, the film has crossed Rs 1000 crore in India, becoming the first Hindi film to achieve the milestone. Its success has been widely celebrated across the industry, making Zakir's remark even more sensitive.
Despite the backlash, the incident has sparked a wider conversation online about humour at award shows and where the line should be drawn between satire and disrespect.
Meanwhile, Zakir Khan has also revealed that he plans to take a break from live performances after his ongoing tour, focusing on his health and personal life for the next few years.
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