Pirated DVDs of Ranveer Singh’s “Dhurandhar” reportedly sold for Rs 16 in Pakistan

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• Karachi vendor sells pirated DVDs of Ranveer Singh's "Dhurandhar"
• The film hasn't been officially released in Pakistan
• Piracy challenges Indian films, impacting box office revenue

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A small clip from a Karachi market has set off a fresh round of chatter online. In the video, a street vendor is seen playing Ranveer Singh’s latest movie “Dhurandhar” on a desktop monitor and casually offering pirated DVDs for what works out to around Rs 16. The price alone caught attention. So did the fact that the film has not been officially released in Pakistan.

The video, which has been widely shared on social media, appears to have been shot in a market long known for selling pirated content. While it shocked some fans, others were less surprised. For years, Indian films that did not get a formal release in Pakistan have still found their way into local markets through informal networks.

“Dhurandhar” has reportedly opened to strong interest in India, with early box office numbers indicating solid footfall. Whenever a film builds that kind of buzz, pirated versions are rarely far behind. Sometimes they surface online within days. In some places, physical DVDs still move quietly through small shops and roadside stalls.

Piracy is not a new problem for the Indian film industry. Industry bodies and international groups such as the Motion Picture Association have repeatedly highlighted the scale of losses caused by illegal copies. While digital piracy through torrent sites and messaging apps has grown, physical piracy has not completely disappeared, especially in areas where streaming access is patchy or informal retail networks are well established.

The cross border angle makes cases like this harder to tackle. Producers can file complaints and seek takedowns online, but shutting down physical markets in another country depends on local enforcement. That is often a slow and uncertain process.

For filmmakers, the first few weeks after release are crucial. That is when most of the revenue comes in. Cheap pirated copies, even if sold in limited pockets, chip away at potential earnings and highlight how fragile theatrical economics can be.

The Karachi video may fade from timelines in a few days, but it brings back a familiar issue. Popular films travel fast. So do pirated copies.