Argus News - ‘Dhurandhar’ Fever Grips Pakistan Despite Ban

Bhubaneswar, Dec 23: The spy thriller film Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, has created a major buzz in Pakistan despite being officially banned there.

However, reports indicate that the movie has sparked massive curiosity and demand, quickly becoming the most pirated Indian film ever. Surpassing Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees and Rajinikanth’s Robot 2.0, it recorded over 2 million illegal downloads within just two weeks of release. Viewers accessed the movie through torrents, Telegram groups, VPNs, and other unauthorized platforms.

According to a report, published in IANS, Pakistani authorities have raised objections to the film’s depiction of cross‑border terrorism and espionage in Karachi’s Lyari district. Officials and analysts expressed concern that the storyline highlighted internal challenges and carried what they described as “anti‑Pakistan” themes.

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Viewers access low-resolution versions from servers in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Malaysia, fuelling social media buzz with reels and memes, according to reports. This surge shows huge curiosity, even as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) filed a court petition in Karachi over images of former PM Benazir Bhutto in the film.

Music Hits Different

The film’s popularity in Pakistan extended beyond cinema. A viral clip showed politician Bilawal Bhutto Zardari walking into an event to the banned movie’s hit track ‘FA9LA’, featuring Akshaye Khanna.

Adding to the irony, during the U19 Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai — where Pakistan defeated India by a massive 191 runs to claim their maiden title — players celebrated their historic win by dancing to the same Dhurandhar song.

Still Going Strong

Since its release on December 5, the film has collected ₹95 crore net domestically in its third weekend, despite competition from James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash.  This has taken Dhurandhar’s domestic collection to ₹571.75 crore net (₹686 crore gross) after 18 days. This makes it one of the highest-grossing Indian films of the year and Ranveer Singh’s biggest theatrical success.

Compiled by: Aditi Majhi