The Bollywood spy thriller Dhurandhar has sparked widespread controversy in India and Pakistan over its depiction of cross-border tensions. Starring Ranveer Singh as an Indian intelligence agent infiltrating criminal networks in Karachi, the 3.5-hour film mixes real historical events with fictional storytelling.
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Directed by Aditya Dhar, the movie references incidents such as the 1999 plane hijacking, the 2001 Parliament attack, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The film portrays an Indian spy’s mission to dismantle alleged links between Karachi gangs and terror networks, reflecting a growing trend of nationalist blockbusters in Indian cinema.
Critics in India who reviewed the film negatively have faced online harassment, prompting the Film Critics Guild to condemn “targeted attacks” against reviewers. Bollywood analyst Komal Nahta said films that evoke patriotic sentiment often do well commercially, but this does not guarantee success or shield critics from backlash.
In Pakistan, the film’s portrayal of Lyari and political figures drew strong criticism from residents and officials. Mohammad Zohaib, a Lyari resident, said, “They don’t know anything about Lyari, so how can they make a completely realistic film?” Similarly, Khizer Abdul Wahid remarked, “About 10 percent of what has been shown in the movie is reality, 90 percent is not real.”
The Pakistan Peoples Party filed a legal case in Karachi over the film’s alleged unauthorized use of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s image and portrayal of party leaders as terrorist sympathizers. The controversy underscores how cinema continues to reflect decades-old tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors, who have fought four wars since 1947.
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While Dhurandhar has drawn large audiences and significant attention in India, the backlash highlights ongoing challenges for filmmakers and critics navigating politically sensitive narratives. The debate illustrates the broader impact of cinema in shaping perceptions and reigniting historical grievances across borders.