Mumbai: Ranveer Singh starrer Dhurandhar continues its strong run at the box office, emerging as one of the biggest Indian films of 2025. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy thriller has surpassed the 350 crore club, and is getting rave reviews by both audiences and celebrities. Nonetheless, the topic of the film has now led to a cross border backlash in it, which brings a political aspect to its rising hype.
What Dhurandhar Is About
Dhurandhar draws inspiration from real life events and criminal syndicates that once operated in Lyari, a neighbourhood in Karachi that was infamous for gang wars until the death of Rehman Dakait in 2009. The movie is a fictionalised version of the Indian struggle against terror in Pakistan with Lyari being a central location. Whereas the film has been applauded in India because of the scale of the film, the performance and evocative storyline it has also attracted the wrath of Pakistan due to its depiction of the region.
Pakistan Announces Mera Lyari as a Counter Film
As the popularity of the film grew, the Sindh government of Pakistan announced that they would be making a film called Mera Lyari that they claim would be used to counter what it sees as negative propaganda against the region. On Saturday, December 13, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced it and posted posters of the forthcoming film on X.
Memon, in his post, criticised Dhurandhar, claiming that he had been giving a negative picture of Lyari. He stated that Lyari should not be defined by violence and instead represents culture, peace, talent and resilience. He also said that Mera Lyari is coming out next month, and will aim to showcase what he called the true face of the locality, focusing on peace, prosperity and pride.
A New Layer of Debate Around the Film
This announcement has introduced a new dimension to the debate on Dhurandhar. Although the movie mentions criminal networks associated with Lyari it bases its plot on cross border terror activities, so it is delicate considering the geopolitical background. The film has been criticized in Pakistan as misrepresented and still in India, it is being hailed as a high impact thriller, which is based on realism.
Box Office Surge and Midnight Shows
Dhurandhar is doing very well, both in India and in some foreign markets, despite the controversy. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh said that the demand of the movie has been so great that theatres in Mumbai have started playing 24 hour shifts. The midnight shows have been introduced besides the routine screenings, with some starting as late as 12.45 AM and running until the early hours of the night. Post midnight shows have also been introduced by Pune, which highlights the huge attraction of the movie among viewers.
The movie has collected a total of Rs 364.25 crore in ten days of release, which is higher than the lifetime earnings of some prominent movies such as Gully boy. This performance has firmly positioned Dhurandhar among the highest grossing Indian films of the year.
Ban in Gulf Countries
Although Dhurandhar has had a successful theatrical run in India, it has faced restrictions in six Gulf countries. The film has been reportedly banned in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The governments of these nations are reported to have felt that the plot and the characterisation would be considered to be offensive, considering that they have strong diplomatic relations with Pakistan. The producers made all possible efforts but the film was not released in these regions by the censor authorities.
Ensemble Cast and Strong Performances
Dhurandhar features a powerful ensemble cast led by Ranveer Singh, alongside Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Manav Gohil, Danish Pandor, Saumya Tandon and Gaurav Gera. Their performance especially Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna have been widely praised for adding depth and intensity to the narrative.
A Film That Refuses to Fade Quietly
With Dhurandhar steadily ascending the box office, the news about Mera Lyari has made sure that the movie stays in headlines due to anything but cinematic reasons. Having had its commercial success on one side and geopolitical debate on the other, Dhurandhar has become one of the most discussed films of the year that has proven its influence to be far more than the theatre screen.
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