'War' actress Anupria Goenka DEFENDS Aditya Chopra's spy universe amid 'Dhurandhar' comparison: 'Everybody gets to choose'

As Aditya Chopra's Spy Universe faces growing scrutiny following the release of 'Dhurandhar' (2025) and its sequel 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' (2026), actress Anupria Goenka, who featured in two of the franchise's biggest hits, 'Tiger Zinda Hai' (2017) and 'War' (2019), has stepped forward with a warm and measured defence of the beloved action series. Her association with the franchise gives her perspective on its evolution a particular weight.Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Anupria Goenka addressed the backlash surrounding the franchise with characteristic calm and candour. She said, "I have no idea about it. The way I live and operate, I don't really get to know what's happening. I am very proud of both 'War' and 'Tiger Zinda Hai' and I thoroughly enjoyed shooting for them."She also expressed her appreciation for 'Pathaan' (2023) as a viewer before going on to defend the varying tones across the franchise. She said, "For me, 'War' and 'Tiger Zinda Hai' were beautiful, entertaining films. 'Dhurandhar', meanwhile, is a different kind of entertaining film. There has to be space for everything. Everybody gets to choose what they like to watch."Far from dismissing 'Dhurandhar', Anupria Goenka was enthusiastic about the film's distinct identity within the spy genre. She said, "I enjoyed 'Dhurandhar' a lot and felt it was a fabulous film. I am glad that kind of work is being done in India."At the same time, she made clear that her admiration for the earlier films in the franchise goes beyond personal sentiment: "I have a huge amount of admiration for 'War' and 'Tiger Zinda Hai', not just because I was a part of them, but also because I enjoyed them immensely as a viewer."Aditya Chopra's spy universe, which includes 'Ek Tha Tiger', 'Tiger Zinda Hai', 'War', 'Pathaan', 'Tiger 3', and 'War 2', received criticism for its over-the-top action and unrealistic depiction of Indian agents. On the other hand, the 'Dhurandhar' franchise received appreciation and love for showcasing agents as spies who are covert, strategic, and not going over the top.