Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller Dhurandhar has become a surprising cultural phenomenon in Pakistan, even though the film is officially banned in the country. According to IANS reports, the film has been illegally downloaded at least 2 million times in the first two weeks of its release, making it the most pirated Indian film in recent history in Pakistan. According to reports, this figure is higher than the piracy numbers of previous hits like Shahrukh Khan’s Raees and Rajinikanth’s 2.0.
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Dhurandhar is banned in Pakistan
The ban was imposed by Pakistani authorities after the film raised objections over the film’s depiction of sensitive historical events related to stories of cross-border terrorism and espionage in the Lyari district of Karachi. The decision was also taken in several Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, due to concerns from officials and analysts over the depiction of internal issues and alleged ‘anti-Pakistan’ themes, IANS reported.
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Dhurandhar’s music is also a hit in Pakistan
Despite this ban, Dhurandhar has a huge fan following in the underground community. According to reports, people of Pakistan are watching this video through torrents, Telegram channels, VPNs as well as foreign streaming links.
The music of the film has also been unexpectedly liked. In a clip going viral on social media, Pakistani politician Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is being welcomed at an event, while Dhurandhar’s track FA9LA, filmed on Akshaye Khanna’s character, is playing in the background. The video attracted attention because the music was played in a public gathering, while the film itself is banned.
Dhurandhar’s collection till now
Ranveer Singh and Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller made the lowest gross at the Indian box office on its 14th day, the second Thursday. The film had an opening of Rs 28 crore at the box office on the first day and earned Rs 23 crore on the 14th day. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film’s total collection stands at Rs 460.25 crore in India and Rs 680 crore worldwide in two weeks.