Despite being banned in Pakistan, the Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna starrer spy thriller, "Dhurandhar," has reportedly been downloaded approximately 2 million times in the country, becoming its most pirated film. The Aditya Dhar directorial, which was released on December 5, 2025, has sparked widespread interest and debate despite the ban.
The film's popularity in Pakistan has surged due to unauthorized digital access, with viewers accessing it through torrent sites, Telegram channels, underground streams, and VPN services. Some reports indicate that servers in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Malaysia are being utilized to facilitate these illegal downloads. This high level of piracy has allowed "Dhurandhar" to surpass Rajinikanth's "2.0" and Shah Rukh Khan's "Raees" as the most pirated film in Pakistan.
"Dhurandhar" has faced criticism in Pakistan for its depiction of the Lyari neighborhood in Karachi, with Pakistani officials describing it as a "negative portrayal". The film portrays Lyari as a hub of crime, including gang wars, drug trafficking, and terrorism. Sharjeel Inam Memon, Sindh's Senior Minister for Information and Broadcasting, criticized the film as "another example of negative propaganda by the Indian film industry against Pakistan, especially targeting Lyari".
In response to "Dhurandhar," the Sindh government announced the release of a new film titled "Mera Lyari," aiming to depict the "true face of Lyari: peace, prosperity, and pride". The Pakistani establishment views "Dhurandhar" unfavorably due to its portrayal of the 1999 Kandahar hijacking, the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, and the Lyari gang wars.
Despite the controversy, "Dhurandhar" has become a topic of discussion and has inspired social media trends in Pakistan. Some Pakistanis have created reels and memes related to the film, while others have lauded the performances of the cast. One Pakistani man's reaction to the film went viral, with his Instagram video explaining how the movie felt familiar and personal, yet he separated his national feelings from his view of the film as a piece of movie-making.
The film's success extends beyond Pakistan, having grossed over ₹700 crore worldwide. In India, "Dhurandhar" has also achieved significant box office success, crossing ₹400 crore in net ticket sales within 12 days of release. Despite a potential revenue loss of ₹50-60 crore due to the ban in Pakistan and some Gulf nations, the film's global performance remains strong.
