'Dhurandhar' star Sanjay Mehandiratta on patriotism vs jingoism row: 'Don't treat the film like a history lesson'

Not everyone gets a second shot at their dream, but actor Sanjay Mehandiratta did and he has made the most of it. Known for playing Pakistani President Zarwari in the Ranveer Singh-led 'Dhurandhar' franchise, Mehandiratta's journey from a middle-class background to one of Bollywood's most talked-about films is a story worth telling.Sanjay Mehandiratta tried his hand at modeling in his twenties but had to put his creative ambitions aside for financial stability. In an interview with Cinema Express, the actor spoke about the patriotism vs. jingoism debate after the release of 'Dhurandhar'.'Dhurandhar' has sparked debate beyond the box office, with discussions about whether its tone veers into jingoism. Mehandiratta had a clear and measured take. He said, "The first thing I would like to tell you about this debate is that you don't treat Dhurandhar as a history lesson. It is a fictional story. Also, who decides what is patriotism and what is jingoism? Both these terms are subjective."The actor went on to add, "Aditya Dhar has made the film with his perspective on patriotism. Criticisms are most welcome; that is what makes us a vibrant democracy. All kinds of varied, contradicting opinions need to be voiced. Artistic expression and criticism should coexist. That is a healthy democracy."He further shared, "It is in countries like North Korea, with a single leader and a single party, where people cannot have a different opinion, that something drastically has gone wrong. In India, 'Dhurandhar' can be made, and it can win applause and receive criticisms."He shared, "My immediate next film is 'Wives' by Madhur Bhandarkar. The film is about the wives of Bollywood stars and a peek into their personal spaces." The actor also added that he has a Telugu movie lined up about which he couldn't reveal much.Directed by Aditya Dhar, the films have raked in over Rs 3000 crore at the box office.