‘Felt nostalgic, not anti-Pakistan’: Pakistani viewers share mixed reactions to Dhurandhar

How Pakistani netizens reacted to Dhurandhar

• Dhurandhar tops Netflix Pakistan despite no theatrical release in the country
• Film sparks debate over portrayal of Karachi's Lyari and cultural accuracy
• Director clarifies Dhurandhar is not based on Major Mohit Sharma's life

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Ranveer Singh and director Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller Dhurandhar continues to expand its global footprint, emerging as the number one film on Netflix Pakistan despite not being released theatrically in the country. The film began streaming on Netflix on January 30 and climbed to the top spot within days.

The movie, which had a strong theatrical run in India, was barred from release in Pakistan and several Gulf countries. However, its arrival on OTT has sparked widespread discussion across the border, particularly over its depiction of Pakistan and its portrayal of sensitive locations such as Lyari in Karachi.

Ranveer Singh plays an Indian spy on a covert mission in Pakistan, a narrative choice that has drawn mixed reactions from Pakistani viewers. Several netizens criticised Bollywood for repeatedly centring Pakistan in its political thrillers, while others debated the accuracy of the locations and cultural references shown in the film.

A video circulating on social media shows residents of Lyari reacting to the film’s portrayal of their city. Some questioned why the makers did not consult locals, while others invited the cast to see Lyari as it exists in reality.

One person said, “India walon ne film bana li hai, humse to poochte. Hum unko dikhaate Lyari ki galiyaan. Rehman Dakait ka bhi bataate.”

Another added, “Usko batayenge Lyari kya cheez hai.”

People of Lyari from Karachi has a message for ⁦@RanveerOfficial⁩, Sunjay Dutt and others… ⁦@RanveermovieFC⁩ via ⁦@geonews_urdu⁩#Dhurandharpic.twitter.com/OAWGuWSjzx

— Sulay_maan (@239suleman) November 24, 2025

The film also triggered speculation that it was based on the life of Indian Army officer Major Mohit Sharma. Director Aditya Dhar addressed these rumours with an official clarification on X, stating, “Hi, sir – our film Dhurandhar is not based on the life of braveheart Major Mohit Sharma AC(P) SM. This is an official clarification. I assure you, if we do make a biopic on Mohit sir in the future, we will do it with full consent and in complete consultation with the family, and in a way that truly honors his sacrifice for the nation and the legacy it has left for all of us.”

Beyond criticism, the film has also received praise from Pakistani viewers. In one widely shared Instagram video, a man who said he grew up in Karachi described the film as emotionally unsettling yet cinematically impressive. While acknowledging that Pakistan is once again portrayed as the enemy, he praised the film’s craft, performances and music, calling it a “brilliant work.”

The viewer added that certain scenes felt disturbing and “against humanity,” noting that removing national identities and viewing the violence purely as one human harming another made the message more impactful.

A similar response surfaced on Reddit, where a user identifying as Pakistani shared screenshots from the film and praised the depth of research behind it. He wrote, “Saw the film as a Pakistani born in Karachi and now im pissed i missed it in cinemas… im so pleasantly surprised by how accurate the Urdu and karachi vibe is… this movie made me so nostalgic actually.”

He further added, “And to me this movie didnt feel ‘anti Pakistan’ at all lol and im a Pakistani! The depth and research has to be respected and commended.”

Dhurandhar stars Ranveer Singh as undercover agent Hamza Ali Mazari, with R Madhavan playing Indian spymaster Ajay Sanyal. The ensemble cast also includes Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal and Rakesh Bedi. The film marks the acting debut of Sara Arjun opposite Ranveer Singh.

At the box office, Dhurandhar has crossed Rs 350 crore net in India within 10 days, surpassing the lifetime collections of films such as Sanju, PK and Saiyaara. The film is scheduled for a wider international theatrical release on December 5, 2025.