Mumbai: Ranveer Singh has sparked a fresh debate with his RuPay advertisement featuring father-in-law Prakash Padukone, as fans spotted what they believe is a subtle reference to Dhruv Rathee’s ‘Bhavandar’.
The commercial marks the first on-screen collaboration between Ranveer and the former badminton champion, and includes several personal touches.
From Ranveer addressing him as ‘Pappa’ to visuals of badminton rackets and even a quirky unicorn prop, the ad blends family moments with his signature flair.
However, it’s a brief, easy-to-miss detail that has grabbed the internet’s attention. In a theatre scene, a poster featuring Ranveer appears in the background with the title ‘Bavandar: The Tornado’.
Viewers were quick to connect this to Rathee’s earlier videos, where he mentioned a fictional film titled ‘Operation Bhavandar’ while criticising ‘Dhurandhar’ and its sequel.
It has sparked a flurry of reactions online, with many calling it “peak detailing” and debating whether it was a deliberate nod or just a coincidence.
One user commented, “How Ranveer Singh trolls @dhruv_rathee!”
Another wrote, “we see what you did there.”
Rupay ad with #RanveerSingh and #PrakashPadukone 🥰😍
Their first ad together ❤️ #DeepVeer pic.twitter.com/DfhXQI0Dsj
— Versatile Fan (@versatilefan) April 13, 2026
For the unversed, Rathee had earlier criticised the ‘Dhurandhar’ films in his videos, describing them as politically driven.
He remarked “well-made propaganda can be more dangerous,” adding that films like ‘The Taj Story’ and ‘The Bengal Files’ were not impactful because they were poorly made, whereas ‘Dhurandhar’ stands out as an engaging film.
He further noted that since the story draws from real-life events, it feels more believable compared to fictional action films like ‘Pathaan’ or ‘Tiger’.
Directed by Aditya Dhar and inspired by true incidents, the narrative unfolds in the early 2000s.
Set in Pakistan, ‘Dhurandhar’ follows the journey of an Indian spy who infiltrates the Lyari gangs.
The film features a strong ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and R Madhavan, along with Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi.
