Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar Banned in Pakistan, Becomes Most Pirated Film There

The Bollywood spy thriller Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh as an undercover Indian agent infiltrating Karachi's Lyari neighbourhood to combat terror networks, has been officially banned in Pakistan and several Gulf nations due to its perceived negative portrayal of the country.

Despite stringent efforts by Pakistani authorities to enforce a digital blackout, the film has reportedly achieved over two million illegal downloads within just 12 days, emerging as the most pirated movie in Pakistan's history, surpassing previous records held by films like 2.0 and Raees.

Piracy channels, including torrent sites, Telegram groups, underground streaming platforms, and VPN-assisted access, have proliferated, with some sources utilising servers in countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Malaysia to circumvent restrictions imposed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency.

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The surge in downloads reflects significant public curiosity among Pakistani viewers, many of whom have expressed appreciation for the performances despite disagreeing with the narrative; social media activity includes reels, memes, and discussions, while official accounts attempt to counter the film's depiction through edited clips.

In response, Sindh Provincial Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has condemned Dhurandhar as propaganda and announced the fast-tracked release of a counter-film titled Mera Lyari, aimed at showcasing the area's culture, peace, talent, and resilience; additionally, legal action has been initiated by the Pakistan Peoples Party challenging the use of late leader Benazir Bhutto's imagery, with experts noting the developments indicate a defensive stance from Pakistani authorities.

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