Dhurandhar is still trending in Pakistan, and for all the surprising reasons. It is currently trending on Netflix, and that doesn't end there; people actively share the memes and scenes of the film and can't stop talking about it. Why is Pakistan so obsessed with Dhurandhar?
Dhurandhar was released on Netflix on January 30, 2026 and instantly jumped to #1 on Netflix Pakistan, even though the theatre release was banned by the Pakistani government and called the movie "A propaganda".
The Indian film was not given official clearance for theatrical release in Pakistan, but that did not stop the people of the country from watching the movie on illegal sites, and so much so that it became the most pirated movie in Pakistan, with reports of over 2 million illegal downloads.
Sharjeel Inam Memon, a minister from Sindh, wrote on X, "Indian movie Dhurandhar is yet another example of negative propaganda by the Indian film industry… Lyari is not violence — it is culture, peace, talent, and resilience.”
“The way my role is shown, I was very audacious — but they haven’t shown me as I actually was. They’ve tried to show Lyari as a terrorist hub, which it is not. If their agent actually came there, he would not have left alive.” Nabil Gabol, the former Pakistani Politician said.
If the movie is considered propaganda and Lyari has been depicted in the wrong light, then how did it become the most pirated movie in the country and instantly rise to #1 on Netflix?
The "Ban" increased the curiosity among the audience, and the promo flawlessly portrayed the Lyari and the instability in the region due to the goons. Spy and thriller movies have always worked in Pakistan and Dhurandhar really came out as surprise. The Lyari controversy is already familiar to the people, which further fueled the interest.