'Everyone was jealous of Dhurandhar'... Siddharth Anand lashes out at Zakir Khan's comment, calls the comedian a 'duffer', and gives him a stern dressing-down.

Everyone is reveling in the success of Ranveer Singh's film, Dhurandhar: The Revenge. From the South Indian film industry to Bollywood, everyone is lauding Aditya Dhar's craftsmanship and Ranveer Singh's performance. However, amidst this celebratory atmosphere, comedian Zakir Khan cracked a joke regarding Dhurandhar 2 at an awards ceremony—a joke that has raised the hackles of many within the industry.

Following Amisha Patel, Siddharth Anand—the director behind Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming film King as well as the blockbuster Pathaan—has now also severely rebuked Zakir Khan, labeling him a "real duffer." Let's take a look at exactly what this entire controversy is all about.

"For 50 Years, It Is the People of Juhu-Bandra Who Have Delivered Blockbusters" — Siddharth Anand

During an awards ceremony, while jokingly taking a dig at the industry regarding the success of Dhurandhar 2, Zakir Khan remarked, "The bombs exploded in Lyari... yet the smoke rose right here in Bandra-Juhu." Retaliating against this comment by the comedian, Siddharth Anand—the director of King—took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to write: "It is the people of Juhu-Bandra who have delivered all-time blockbuster films over the last 50 years. If you fail to recognize their contribution, then that is simply your own foolishness."

In this post defending the industry, Siddharth Anand did not explicitly name Zakir Khan; however, fans have rightly surmised that his outburst was indeed directed at Zakir Khan's comment.

How Did Zakir Khan's Comment Spark the Controversy? In fact, during the 'Screen Awards 2026,' while interacting with the audience, comedian Zakir Khan alluded to the success of Dhurandhar 2 and remarked:

"No matter how many congratulatory posts you upload, how many stories you share, or how many interviews you give claiming that this is your favorite film—the truth remains that everyone is secretly envious of Dhurandhar."

Ameesha Patel Had Also Lashed Out

It is worth noting that even before Siddharth Anand, Bollywood actress Ameesha Patel had also severely rebuked the comedian. On her official X account, she wrote: "Stop spreading negativity. The film industry values ​​and respects Dhurandhar. Shah Rukh, Salman, Sunny, Hrithik, Ajay... there are many such superstars who have delivered 25 mega-hit films each—and continue to do so—so just chill. Gadar has been creating a sensation for many years, and it will continue to do so in the future."