The recently released trailer of Bollywood’s highly anticipated film Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh and Sanjay Dutt, has sparked a wave of controversy in Pakistan.
Critics argue that the film distorts the realities of local gang conflicts in Pakistan, sensationalizing them into a dramatic cross-border narrative for cinematic effect. Dhurandhar is being billed as Ranveer Singh’s major attempt at a box office comeback after a series of underperforming films.
#Dhurandhar‘s real life characters & their onscreen depictions! pic.twitter.com/wdM81tJmyd
— Filmynews (@filmynewsnetwrk) November 19, 2025
Alongside him, the film features prominent Bollywood stars including Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Akshay Khanna, and R. Madhavan. Early reports indicate that the storyline leans heavily on anti-Pakistan themes — a recurring pattern in some Bollywood blockbusters aimed at boosting the visibility and commercial appeal of leading actors. The trailer, for instance, presents the gang wars of Karachi’s Lyari neighborhood as part of a larger, exaggerated international espionage plot.
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Portrayal of real-life figures draws criticism
Some of the film’s characters appear to be based on actual personalities:
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Sanjay Dutt plays SSP Chaudhry Aslam
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Akshay Khanna portrays a local gangster, Rahman Dacait
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R. Madhavan’s character seems inspired by India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval
Other roles appear to reference Pakistan’s intelligence agencies, particularly the ISI. This blending of real-life figures with fictional spy narratives has attracted criticism for its distortion of facts and for turning domestic criminal conflicts into a cross-border thriller
Social media backlash in Pakistan
The trailer has provoked a strong reaction online, with Pakistani netizens condemning Bollywood’s recurring fixation on anti-Pakistan narratives. Common sentiments include:
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“The only way an Indian actor can stage a comeback is through an anti-Pakistan film. First SRK with Pathaan, now Ranveer Singh with Dhurandhar.”
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“Bollywood is so obsessed with Pakistan that we deserve a writer’s credit for the script.”
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“Here we go again — taweez and surmay walay musalman are back on screen.”
The backlash reflects broader frustration in Pakistan over repeated portrayals of the country as the villain in Bollywood storytelling, raising questions about cinematic responsibility and cross-border cultural sensitivities.
Observers note that this is not the first time Bollywood has used Pakistan as a convenient antagonist to heighten dramatic tension. Such portrayals often reduce complex social realities into caricatured narratives, blending fact with fiction to appeal to domestic audiences while sparking controversy abroad.
Analysts argue that films like Dhurandhar risk fueling stereotypes and diplomatic unease, particularly when they draw directly from recognizable public figures and institutions.
Here’s how social media users reacted to trailer
This tweet is not innocent. It is much deeper & follows an agenda. The movie Dhurandhar is for the first time seeing Pakistani state & it’s players from the prism of Indian state, not romantizing them. In perception war, this changes everything, so Rathee has been activated. pic.twitter.com/zaIdjtKolh
— Khalid Baig (@KhalidBaig85) November 18, 2025
the same paid puppets who clapped on action scenes of jawaan and pathaan, now have problem with dhurandhar, that shows valour of our actual covert missions.
what is the reason?
koi paid toolkit hai ya fir desh se free me hi nafrat karte ho?
— Open Letter (@openletteryt) November 19, 2025
The orchestrated outrage against Dhurandhar (trailer) is because of the director’s previous product, Baramulla.
Those suddenly discovering the deleterious effects of violence on youth, just for this movie, can have no other reason.
Because there is far more violent gory…
— Arnab Ray (@greatbong) November 19, 2025
They showed PPP and Benzair in Dhurandhar Trailer, they also showed Lyari 😭
Unreal obsession of Bollywood with Pakistan pic.twitter.com/hW6ttQ6OxS
— Abdullah (@abdullahayyaz) November 18, 2025
Bollywood milking ISI and Pakistan for the 9th times #Dhurandhar https://t.co/v53s8uV2lf pic.twitter.com/LuhpCvJpdc
— Dan🇵🇸 (@GOALINGHAM) November 18, 2025
Imagine if Pakistan made the movie Dhurandar .
Pooray India ko mirchian lag jani thi
Every year their film industry can’t survive without talking about Pakistan.
Not a single time have we made such a movie.
Aur phir ye so-called peace ki baat karte hain hamare padosi— Mubeen ul haq (@Whoismubeen) November 18, 2025