Actor Saumya Tandon has clarified that she did not intend to take a jab at the YRF Spy Universe after one of her comments defending Dhurandhar was interpreted as a dig at the franchise. Saumya, who plays Ulfat Hasin opposite Akshaye Khanna’s Rehman Dakait in Aditya Dhar’s spy-action thriller, recently responded to online discussions around the film’s portrayal of women.
Saumya Tandon Denies Taking a Dig at YRF Spyverse
It began when Saumya reacted to a comment on X (formerly Twitter) noting that Dhurandhar felt heavily male-dominated. While she acknowledged the film’s gender imbalance, she firmly rejected claims of misogyny. She wrote, “They aren’t beaten, objectified, or shown as one of many wives, even though that society could have allowed it.”
And I’m not taking a jab at anyone at all. I enjoy every kind of film- romance on beaches, mountain love stories, songs, dance, everything. But this film simply didn’t have that grain or need. So please, @moviesndtv , don’t print what I didn’t say. Wish you spoke with me before… https://t.co/Yzt2Ll8vWY
— Saumya Tandon (@saumyatandon) December 10, 2025
She added a follow-up line that sparked the controversy:
“Sorry that the grain of this story doesn’t allow for glamorous heroines singing songs on exotic beaches, that may work for other scripts, but not in this one.”
Several media reports interpreted this as a subtle swipe at YRF’s hugely popular spy universe, known for its glamorous settings and high-octane action. However, Saumya quickly set the record straight.
Taking to X again, she clarified, “I’m not taking a jab at anyone at all. I enjoy every kind of film — romance on beaches, mountain love stories, songs, dance, everything. But this film simply didn’t have that grain or need. So please don’t print what I didn’t say.”
What Is the YRF Spy Universe?
For context, the YRF Spyverse includes blockbuster films such as:
- Ek Tha Tiger (2012)
- Tiger Zinda Hai (2017)
- War (2019)
- Pathaan (2023)
- Tiger 3 (2023)
- War 2 (2025)
The next installment is Alpha (2026), starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari.
About Dhurandhar
Dhurandhar is a spy action thriller written, directed, and co-produced by Aditya Dhar, alongside Jyoti Deshpande and Lokesh Dhar under Jio Studios and B62 Studios. The ensemble cast includes Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi, with Manav Gohil, Danish Pandor, Saumya Tandon, Gaurav Gera, and Naveen Kaushik in supporting roles.
Inspired by real events, the film explores India–Pakistan geopolitical tensions in the early 2000s. Ranveer Singh plays Hamza Ali Mazari, an Indian agent who infiltrates a Pakistani crime syndicate.
The sequel, Dhurandhar 2, is scheduled to release in theatres on March 19, 2026.