Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub disowns voice work in Ajay Devgn's Chauhan teaser

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub disowns voice work in Ajay Devgn's Chauhan teaser

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub has issued a public statement clarifying he has no association with Ajay Devgn's upcoming film Chauhan after his voice appeared in the teaser without his knowledge of how it would be used.

In a statement posted on X late Tuesday night, the National School of Drama graduate explained he was asked months ago to dub a single line without any reference material. The actor, who has appeared in more than 25 films over a 14-year career, said he completed the work in good faith because he 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.

Ayyub added that after his strong objection, the makers removed his voice from the teaser fifteen days ago.

The controversial teaser

The teaser for Chauhan, which was unveiled on June 25, 2026, had drawn attention for featuring the line 'Pathaanon se kehna, Chauhaan aa raha hai' in Ayyub's voice before it was subsequently altered. The film is directed by Neeraj Yadav and set against the backdrop of Kashmir, with the teaser showing protesters in Pulwama confronting army guards.

Ayyub, who has frequently collaborated with producer Aanand L Rai on four films including Raanjhanaa, Zero, and the Tanu Weds Manu series, emphasized he would never have chosen to be part of such a project.

Though this will clarify my position as an artist who would never be a part of any such project, our entire attention should be on the present situation of the country where our young relentless students are on the streets putting up a brave fight.

Student protests context

The actor's reference to student protests relates to ongoing demonstrations across India. Since May 2026, thousands of students have been protesting under the Cockroach Janta Party movement, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam irregularities including a medical entrance examination paper leak that affected more than 2 million candidates. On July 20, just two days before Ayyub's statement, thousands of student protesters attempting to march to parliament clashed with police who used tear gas and batons, leaving over 100 students injured.

Ayyub concluded his statement with "Kudos to their inspiring spirit. JAI HIND, JAI SAMVIDHAN."

Additional controversy surrounding the film

The film has already faced controversy beyond the voice dubbing issue. In late June 2026, the Kshatriya Parishad, a Rajput organization, condemned Chauhan for allegedly appropriating the Chauhan clan name for communal politics.

Chauhan is produced by Jyoti Deshpande, President of Media and Content Business at Reliance Industries and CEO of Jio Studios, alongside Aanand L Rai and Himanshu Sharma. The film marks the first collaboration between Devgn, who has appeared in over 100 films and won his third National Film Award for Best Actor for the 2020 period epic Tanhaji, and director-producer Rai, known for romantic comedy-dramas including Tanu Weds Manu and Raanjhanaa. The film is scheduled for theatrical release on October 1, 2027.