Banned Dhurandhar Dominates Pakistan's Digital Space, Rattles Establishment | Exclusive

Last Updated:December 17, 2025, 17:43 IST

The very Pakistani establishment that has banned the film is now obsessively engaged with its content

Dhurandhar stars Ranveer Singh as Hamza, an Indian spy who infiltrates Pakistan’s Lyari to dismantle terror networks shown as being backed by the ISI. Image/X

The Indian spy thriller Dhurandhar has set off a cinematic and diplomatic firestorm in Pakistan, becoming a massive cultural rage despite a total official ban. While the film has been barred from theatres in Pakistan and six Gulf nations—including Saudi Arabia and the UAE—for its “anti-Pakistan" stance, it is being consumed by millions across the border. Massive torrents and piracy links have flooded the internet, with Pakistan’s own Dark Web experts reportedly accessing or generating high-traffic links via servers in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Malaysia.

The film, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, is available in low-resolution “cam-prints" on various platforms, including Chinese hosting websites. However, the viewership has transcended mere entertainment.

Social media accounts, allegedly linked to the ISI and ISPR, have tried to weaponise the film by using mini-clips to mock Indian narratives. This “Fifth Generation" digital warfare involves manipulating the movie’s content to serve local propaganda, yet the irony remains: the very establishment that has banned the film is now obsessively engaged with its content. On TikTok and Instagram, Pakistani netizens are creating reels and parodies.

A Shaken Establishment and Legal Retaliation

The Pakistani political and media landscape has been thoroughly rattled by the film’s depiction of Karachi’s Lyari area as a “terrorist war zone". The film has sparked a major diplomatic row for its use of political imagery, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) flags and images of the late Benazir Bhutto. A legal challenge has already been filed in a Karachi court by PPP activist Mohammad Amir, seeking an FIR against the film’s cast and crew for allegedly defaming Bhutto and linking her party to terrorism.

Dhurandhar stars Ranveer Singh as Hamza, an Indian spy who infiltrates Pakistan’s Lyari to dismantle terror networks shown as being backed by the ISI. The ensemble cast includes Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and Arjun Rampal in pivotal roles.

Senior Pakistani politicians, including Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, have condemned Dhurandhar as a “negative propaganda" piece designed to malign Pakistan’s international image. They argue that the film focuses solely on the gang wars and violence that once plagued Lyari while ignoring its rich culture and resilience.

Desperate Counter: ‘Mera Layari’

In a desperate response to the “Dhurandhar effect", the Sindh government has announced the production of its own feature film titled Mera Layari, slated for release in January 2026. Directed by Abu Aleeha, the film aims to present the “authentic story" of the neighbourhood, focusing on its peace, prosperity, and status as the birthplace of celebrated footballers and boxers.

By greenlighting “positive" films on Lyari, the Pakistani establishment hopes to reclaim the narrative from Bollywood. However, for now, the pirated clips of Dhurandhar continue to dominate screens across Pakistan, proving that in the digital age, a ban is often just an invitation to watch.

News movies Banned Dhurandhar Dominates Pakistan's Digital Space, Rattles Establishment | Exclusive