Ranveer Singh’s new Bollywood film Dhurandhar has sparked strong backlash in Pakistan after the release of its trailer. The movie, which also features Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Akshay Khanna, and R Madhavan, attempts to revive Ranveer Singh’s career after several box office failures. But instead of excitement, the trailer has triggered criticism for its portrayal of Pakistan and its depiction of Karachi’s Lyari gang wars.
Pakistani viewers say the film takes local gang conflicts and exaggerates them into a cross-border spy story. Critics argue that Bollywood has once again relied on anti-Pakistan themes to create drama and boost star appeal. The trailer shows Lyari’s internal criminal rivalries being tied to international intelligence operations, a storyline many believe is far from reality.
Several characters in the film appear inspired by real personalities. Sanjay Dutt is shown as SSP Chaudhry Aslam, Akshay Khanna plays gangster Rahman Dacait, and R Madhavan’s role resembles India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Some other characters seem loosely based on Pakistan’s ISI, adding to the controversy. Viewers in Pakistan say mixing real figures with fictional espionage has created misleading impressions.
Social media platforms in Pakistan saw widespread anger after the trailer’s release. Many users accused Bollywood of repeatedly portraying Pakistan as the villain in big-budget films. Comments ranged from disappointment to sarcasm, with users claiming that Indian actors often rely on anti-Pakistan roles to revive their careers.
The strong reaction reflects a growing frustration over how Pakistan is represented in Bollywood films. As discussions continue online, Dhurandhar is already shaping up to be one of the most debated releases of the year, even before it hits cinemas.
