In an equally blatant showcase of how digital spaces can no longer be bound by borders, Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar is another continental mega-force. Having made a record movie-gross in India (the National Day festival made an average of more than ₹1,300 crore for the year) on the Indian market and going global on Netflix on Jan. 30, 2026 and now in the top spots in the territories which were once banned.
Pakistan as a pirate country to No. 1 Trend, and the most recent feature from Pakistan, where the film was denied a theatrical certificate due to its ‘anti-Pakistan’ storyline and depiction of local Lyari mafia. Prior to its OTT release, reports said that Dhurandhar was the "most pirated movie" in Pakistan.
But this only made the news worse for the original storyline. But once it hit Netflix, the film took fewer than 48 hours to take apart other titles and emerge as the No. 1 most-watched film in the country. Pakistan’s social media has been split, with some praising the film which has been described as an “impressive piece of research” and a grim portrayal of Karachi’s underbelly while others argue over its political message.
The "Global Rampage" of this movie is of course not limited to Pakistan.
- Bangladesh: Dhurandhar is currently trending at No. 1, surpassing local hits and other international thrillers.
- Sri Lanka: The film is at No. 2 in Sri Lanka, behind only the local trending favorites.
- UAE & Gulf: Although it is banned from theaters in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait, the film is trending to No. 1 in these regions due to the huge number of expatriate population.
The Star Power and Plot
A fantastic cast, including the terrific Ranveer Singh as Hamza Ali Mazari as well as the menacing Rehman Dakait in the role played by Akshaye Khanna and Sanjay Dutt, have driven the success of the film. The story is based on an Indian covert operation in Lyari, Pakistan, centered around a high-stakes counter-terrorism mission.
What’s Next?
The phenomenal success has paved the way for sequel Dhurandhar: Part 2 - Revenge, slated for theaters on 19 March 2026. And with the teaser already breaking records across YouTube the franchise is set to be a star-studded force in South Asian cinema through to next year.
