"Bollywood is so obsessed with Pakistan."
Ranveer Singh’s upcoming film Dhurandhar has sparked criticism in Pakistan following the release of its trailer.
The film, directed by Aditya Dhar, shows Ranveer Singh portraying an Indian spy stationed in Karachi’s Lyari area.
The trailer features Arjun Rampal as Major Iqbal, nicknamed the ‘Angel of Death,’ and Akshay Khanna as notorious criminal Rahman Dakait, labelled ‘Apex Predator.’
Sanjay Dutt appears as Karachi’s counter-terror officer Chaudhry Aslam, referred to in the trailer as ‘The Jinn,’ generating additional public discussion.
R. Madhavan is said to take on a character modelled on India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, while other characters are based on Pakistan’s ISI.
Critics have questioned the historical accuracy of the portrayal, noting that Rahman Dakait and Chaudhry Aslam were mainly involved in gang conflicts and police operations.
The trailer also references events like the 1999 Kandahar hijacking, leaving some viewers confused about the storyline and its historical context.
On social media, many Pakistani viewers described the film as exhibiting ‘fake nationalism’ and criticised it for its historical inconsistencies and narrative choices.
Some users commented sarcastically that Bollywood has taken its storylines all the way to Lyari, reflecting scepticism about the plot’s authenticity.
Others argued that the film seems to convert a local Karachi gang war into an international espionage scenario for cinematic purposes.
Several social media posts by Pakistani users highlighted the inclusion of Pakistani political imagery.
This included a PPP rally, images of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, and party flags, drawing further scrutiny.
One netizen stated: “The only way an Indian actor can make a comeback is by starring in an anti-Pakistan film.
“First it was SRK with Pathan and now Ranveer Singh with Dhurandhar.”
Another added: “Bollywood is so obsessed with Pakistan that we now deserve a writer’s credit.”
One said: “Lo and behold. Muslims wearing taweez and surma are back once again.”
Public opinion on social media also noted that the trend of portraying historical figures in propaganda-driven narratives reflects a shortage of original film scripts in Bollywood.
Viewers expressed that the mixing of gang wars, espionage, and political imagery created an unusual, attention-grabbing depiction of Lyari and Pakistan.
The trailer has reignited discussion about cinematic responsibility when handling real-life events and figures.
Dhurandhar is scheduled for release on December 5, 2025, in cinemas, and the trailer continues to generate significant conversation across both countries.
Watch the Trailer:
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