Despite being barred from cinemas in Pakistan and several Gulf nations,
Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar has carved out an unlikely presence across the border, first through streaming, and now through the country’s bustling grey markets.
After the espionage thriller began streaming on Netflix, Pakistani viewers found access to the film online. But beyond digital screens, copies of director Aditya Dhar’s action drama have reportedly surfaced in local pirated DVD markets — and at surprisingly low prices.
New Zealand-based YouTuber Karl Rock recently shared a video capturing this very phenomenon. Filming in Pakistan, he stumbled upon pirated DVDs of 'Dhurandhar' being sold openly at Karachi’s Rainbow Centre, a well-known hub for electronics and media.
“Indian films are banned in Pakistan, but look what I found, and this is a new film, yeah, from Hindustan,” Karl says in the clip as he approaches a vendor. He then pans the camera to a screen displaying Ranveer’s poster from the film, with the shopkeeper confirming that it is the latest release.
At one point, Karl adds a personal anecdote about the actor, saying, “I can tell you a thing or two about Ranveer Singh. He's a Sindhi. His grandparents are from this city, I think, and they came across to India during partition.”
Curious about the cost, the YouTuber asks the vendor the price of the pirated copy. The answer comes swiftly, PKR 50 — roughly Rs 16. Reacting to the amount, Karl exclaims, “Bahut sasta (it’s very cheap).”
The video quickly gained traction online, particularly given that Indian films have largely remained absent from Pakistani theatres due to ongoing political tensions between the two nations. Social media users weighed in with mixed reactions. “Why so much hatred between the countries?” one person asked, while another wrote, “The tension between India and Pakistan is ridiculous. Hopefully one day things will change.” A third user quipped, “It was actually more of a hit in Pakistan than even India lol.”
Interestingly, the film’s digital performance tells a strong story. Earlier this month, Dhurandhar reportedly secured the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s global Top 10 non-English films list following its January OTT debut. It also topped streaming charts in both India and Pakistan.
'Dhurandhar 2' is set to release in cinemas on March 19.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the
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