Dhurandhar: A Fictional Spy Thriller Rooted in a Brutal Reality — Rahman Daku’s Friend Hails Bollywood for Telling Lyari’s Story
Though filmmaker Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar is positioned as a work of fiction, the film draws deeply from a harsh and very real chapter of Pakistan’s recent history.
Set in Lyari — a dense neighbourhood of Karachi once synonymous with gang wars and bloodshed in the early 2000s — the espionage thriller blurs the line between cinematic imagination and lived reality.
One of the most talked-about characters in the film is played by Akshaye Khanna, who essays the role of Rahman Daku, a feared yet charismatic gangster inspired by the real-life Lyari don of the same name.
While the portrayal of real figures has triggered political and ideological debates in Pakistan, an unexpected voice of praise has now emerged — from someone who knew Rahman personally.
“What Pakistan Couldn’t Do, Bollywood Did”
In a video that has gone viral on social media, Habib Jan Baloch — a lawyer and prominent Baloch nationalist — is seen reacting to Dhurandhar while speaking to a reporter.
Baloch, who describes himself as a close friend of Rahman Daku two decades ago, reveals that he has watched the film twice.
“I won’t comment on how exactly the character was shown — that’s how films are made,” he says.
“Maybe a few more songs would have made it even better. But I must say this: what Pakistan failed to do, India’s Bollywood has done. Thank you, Bollywood.”
His remarks have drawn attention for their candour and for the sharp contrast they present to the criticism voiced by sections of Pakistan’s political class.
Baloch goes further, describing Rahman Daku as “a hero” and “a good man,” adding, “Pakistan owes him a debt. If Rahman and Uzair Baloch had not existed, Pakistan’s face today would have been like Bangladesh — or even worse.”
He insists that, in his view, the film is not targeted against any political party and should be seen as a dramatic retelling rather than a political statement.
Political backlash in Pakistan
Despite such endorsements, Dhurandhar has not been without controversy across the border.
Leaders and supporters of the Pakistan Peoples Party have criticised the film, alleging that it misrepresents their party and oversimplifies the complex political and criminal dynamics of Lyari during that turbulent period.
The debate has only added to the film’s notoriety and international visibility.
Inside Dhurandhar
The film stars Ranveer Singh as an Indian intelligence operative who infiltrates Rahman Daku’s gang in Lyari during the height of gang warfare in the 2000s.
Sanjay Dutt plays SP Aslam, a character based on a real-life police officer who headed the Lyari Task Force and led operations against organised crime in the area.
Actors R. Madhavan and Arjun Rampal appear in key supporting roles, adding further weight to the ensemble cast.
Box-office juggernaut
Beyond its political and historical undertones, Dhurandhar has emerged as a global commercial phenomenon.
The film has crossed the ₹1,000-crore mark worldwide, making it the fourth-highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time.
Trade analysts attribute its success to a gripping narrative, strong performances, and the intrigue generated by its real-world parallels.
Cinema, memory and contested truths
By revisiting Lyari’s violent past through a spy-thriller lens, Dhurandhar has reopened conversations about crime, politics, nationalism and neglected communities.
Praise from someone like Habib Jan Baloch — who lived through that era — has given the film a layer of unexpected authenticity, even as it continues to divide opinion in Pakistan.
In doing so, the film underlines a recurring truth about cinema: even when fictionalised, powerful storytelling can force societies to confront uncomfortable realities they would rather forget.
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