‘Dhurandhar’ becomes Pakistan’s Most Pirated Film

Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar has taken an unexpected turn in Pakistan, becoming the country’s most pirated film despite being officially banned from theatrical release.

According to an IANS report, the spy action thriller has recorded at least two million illegal downloads within just two weeks of release.

This figure has reportedly surpassed the piracy numbers of Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees and Rajinikanth’s blockbuster 2.0, highlighting the scale of underground viewership.

The surge in illegal downloads comes even as Dhurandhar remains banned in Pakistan and several Gulf countries due to its sensitive subject matter.

Dhurandhar dramatises major historical events, including the 1999 Kandahar hijack, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, and the Lyari gang wars.

Its portrayal of Lyari has reportedly upset sections of Pakistani audiences, who have announced a counter-film titled Mera Lyari to present an alternative narrative.

However, the controversy appears to have intensified curiosity, fuelling widespread piracy rather than dampening interest in the film.

The political backlash has also escalated, with the Pakistan Peoples Party filing an FIR against the cast and crew in a Karachi court.

The objections reportedly centre on the depiction of images of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto within the film.

Despite these controversies, Dhurandhar continues to dominate the box office globally with impressive numbers.

On its second Wednesday, the film registered its lowest single-day collection, earning Rs. 25.5 crore on Day 13.

This took the total domestic box office collection to Rs. 437.25 crore by the end of its thirteenth day.

The worldwide box office collection currently stands at Rs. 674.50 crore, with overseas markets contributing around Rs. 150 crore so far.

The film has grossed over Rs. 650 crore worldwide in just 13 days, underlining its strong commercial pull.

Dhurandhar is written, directed, and co-produced by Aditya Dhar, marking his ambitious return to the spy thriller genre.

The film is headlined by Ranveer Singh and features powerful performances from Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sanjay Dutt.

The ensemble cast also includes Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Manav Gohil, Danish Pandor, Saumya Tandon, Gaurav Gera, and Naveen Kaushik.

As debates rage across borders, Dhurandhar’s piracy surge reflects how controversy continues to drive demand in South Asian cinema.

The film’s reception underscores the complex relationship between politics, history, and popular culture across South Asia’s shared media landscape.

As Dhurandhar continues its global run, its piracy surge remains a striking reminder of how bans can sometimes amplify, rather than restrict, audience demand.