'Mera Lyari': Pakistan's answer to Ranveer Singh’s 'Dhurandhar' sells only 22 tickets on opening day, pulled from theatres

The Pakistani film industry had built up significant hype around its latest release 'Mera Lyari,' with many claiming it would give tough competition to Ranveer Singh's blockbuster 'Dhurandhar'. However, the reality turned out to be very different. The film's box office performance has been nothing short of disastrous. Reports suggest that audiences showed little to no interest in the film right from its opening day. The situation got so bad that several theatres decided to pull the film on its very first day of release.According to Asia Net News, 'Mera Lyari' hit Pakistani theatres on May 8, 2026, riding on the wave of being called Pakistan's answer to 'Dhurandhar'. However, the response was the complete opposite of what the makers had hoped for. Pakistani media reports reveal that the film managed to sell only 22 tickets on its very first day. The poor turnout reportedly led several cinemas to drop the film on its opening day. The film has also become the target of relentless trolling on social media.The film reportedly revolves around the lives of girls in Lyari and their fight against conservative mindsets to carve out a place for themselves in society. However, despite its meaningful premise, the story failed to connect with audiences. Interestingly, reports suggest that while 'Dhurandhar' was banned in Pakistan, its pirated version circulated widely and was watched by many. It is believed that this controversy sparked the idea of making homegrown films like 'Mera Lyari' to bring local stories to the forefront.Directed by Abu Aliha, the film had quite a few things going in its favour. It boasted a recognisable cast with Ayesha Omar, Dananeer Mobeen, Samiya Mumtaz, and Trinette Lucas.