A man landed in trouble after a video of him smoking and allegedly drinking alcohol during a screening of Dhurandhar in Gurugram went viral on social media. The incident – which happened on December 5 at the Miraj Cinemas location – has raised concerns about public safety and appropriate behavior in shared spaces.
In the video, a man sitting in the front row of the movie theater can be seen smoking a cigarette and consuming alcohol, disturbing others with the smoke and smell.
The situation quickly escalated after theater staff approached the man, confronted him and escorted him out of the auditorium after a brief exchange. Their prompt action drew loud applause and cheers from other spectators.
According to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA), smoking is strictly prohibited in public places such as cinemas, auditoriums and other entertainment venues across India. Anyone caught breaking the rule can face penalties up to the above ₹200. Cinemas are required by law to display clear “No Smoking” notices and management can be held liable if they fail to enforce the ban.
How social media users reacted
The clip quickly went viral on social media, with users criticizing the man’s behavior as reckless and lacking in basic “civic sense”. Many pointed to the increased risk of fire inside a dark, enclosed hall filled with flammable materials and noted that smoking in such spaces is a serious violation of safety regulations.
One user wrote: “If your masculinity needs a cigarette and breaking the rules in public, it’s never been strong. Get a life.”
Another commented: “And sitting in the front row… Dude thinks he’s a sigma.”
A third person said: “Dude, I was sitting right behind that guy there too. It was so annoying to see their behavior.”
A fourth added: “It’s pathetic how shameless some people can be.”
A fifth quipped: “The cigarette caused more drama than Dhurandhar’s plot.
More about ‘Dhurandhar’
Released on December 5, ‘Dhurandhar’ is the first installment of a planned two-part saga.
The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast – alongside Ranveer Singh, it features actors like Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and more – creating high expectations for both performance and popularity.
Despite its impressive length of 214 minutes – one of the longest in recent Bollywood productions – the film has garnered praise for its “engrossing drama, world-building, music and performances”, although some critics have pointed to pacing issues.
