Aditya Dhar has left the Bombay High Court having definitely won, and all the fuss about Dhurandhar 2 has gotten a lot quieter. After several weeks of dramatic news stories and accusations, the defamation suit against Santosh Kumar is over, because of a full, official apology.
The verdict and what it means
On April 30, 2026, Justice Arif S. Doctor officially recorded Santosh Kumar’s apology for things he said at a press conference on March 30. At that time, he’d supposedly called Dhar a “chor” (or “thief”) concerning the script for Dhurandhar: The Revenge (2026).
As soon as Kumar said he was sorry, Dhar decided not to try to get any money from him. The court accepted the apology and ended the suit. For a film that’s all about impressive sights, this final resolution in the legal issue might be the most sensible thing that could have happened.
The court outcome, at a glance:
– Unconditional apology recorded in court
– Undertaking to avoid defamatory remarks
– Dhar declined to pursue damages
– Suit disposed on April 30, 2026
How we got here
The problem began with Santosh Kumar’s press conference on March 30, where he said Dhar stole the script and used the word “thief.” Dhar then went to the Bombay High Court, saying Kumar’s statements were damaging to his reputation and asking the court for a solution.
What Santosh Kumar had alleged
At the press conference, Kumar said he wrote the Dhurandhar script and Dhar used his story for Dhurandhar 2. He claimed the movie is doing well and he realized it was his own work after seeing it.
He also said that in 2023 he had told the story to lots of different companies, and was told to get a large corporation involved. He approached Sony, Zee, T-Series, and Dharma Productions.
Kumar added that he wanted Aditya Roy Kapoor for the part, sent the script to many directors, and is a member of the Screenwriter Association where he registered the script in November reception 2023. He said he had proof, including photos, the script itself, and sketches, and would start a case claiming his work had been misused and that the film was being used for political reasons.
The apology that reset the tone
In court, Senior Advocate Dr. Birendra Saraf (who was instructed by DSK Legal and representing Dhar) said the problem would be over if Kumar stopped making statements that were, in themselves, damaging to Dhar’s reputation. This was a simple way to stop the situation from getting worse.
By the time of the final court hearing, things were much calmer. Santosh Kumar’s lawyer gave a full apology and promised he wouldn’t make such statements in the future. Dhar accepted the apology and didn’t pursue getting money, allowing the court to finish with the case.
In a lot of ways, how everything unfolded was like a film plot: a public accusation, a legal response, an apology in court, and a firm decision by the judge. Dhar gets a legal victory and the film can continue to be a success without being interrupted by the court.
What fans and industry will watch next
For people in the audience, this resolution removes a problem that was beginning to get more attention than enjoying the film, which is a large-scale Hindi action movie. Dhurandhar: The Revenge (2026) has been described as more than just a film, and each new argument just added to that idea.
Surprisingly, the court case itself increased that feeling. Now that the apology is official and people aren’t as angry, discussion can go back to the film itself. The promise not to make damaging statements should keep conversations more reasonable, even though Dhurandhar’s spectacle will still be the subject of lots of interest and discussion.
As for Dhar, what he gets from all this is simple. He asked for Kumar to stop, he got an apology, and he left the court still with a positive momentum. In a news world that loves disagreements, a neat and tidy end to a legal problem is a strong position to be in.
