Zeeshan denies involvement in Ajay Devgn's Chauhaan

Ajay Devgn's first collaboration with Aanand L Rai was expected to draw a huge response, given that it marked the superstar's return to action films after ‘Dhamaal 4’. But things took a turn when the first teaser of 'Chauhaan', sparked controversy following its release. Objections came in from both the Chauhan community and the Kshatriya Parishad over certain content in the promo, forcing the makers to replace Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub's voice with another artiste within days. Now, weeks later, the actor has broken his silence on the matter."I have nothing to do with the film": Zeeshan's statementTaking to X, Zeeshan issued a statement clarifying that he has no connection to ‘Chauhaan’. Without directly naming the film, he revealed that he had been asked "to dub a line without any reference a few months back." Given his long-standing association with Aanand L Rai, having featured regularly in the director's films — Zeeshan explained, "I did that in good faith without asking for more as I knew the makers personally. As soon as the teaser was released and I saw the context in which it was (mis)used, I asked the filmmakers to remove my voice from the teaser as I have nothing to do with the film."Title announcement video sparks debate over dialogueThe title announcement video of ‘Chauhaan’ was released on June 25, marking the birth anniversary of Ajay's father, Veeru Devgn. It was the dialogue, "Pathaanon ko keh do Chauhaan aa raha hai," that stirred up debate online.Film reportedly inspired by real-life Jama Masjid incidentReports suggest the film draws loose inspiration from a real-life incident outside Jama Masjid, where Jammu and Kashmir police personnel had been deployed on a busy Friday. During the gathering, the crowd suddenly turned violent. However, the makers are yet to confirm whether ‘Chauhaan’ is officially based on true events.About the filmDirected by Neeraj Yadav, ‘Chauhaan’ is produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Aanand L Rai, and Himanshu Sharma under the Jio Studios and Colour Yellow banners. The film is slated to hit theatres on October 1, 2027.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!