Dhurandhar starring Ranveer Singh clocks over 2 million illegal downloads in Pakistan surpassing Shah Rukh Khan's Raees: Reports

The controversial film, whose release has been withheld in Pakistan, continues to be seen

Last updated: December 24, 2025 | 19:07

Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Entertainment, Lifestyle and Sport Editor

2 MIN READ

Ranveer Singh in ‘Dhurandhar’

Despite its release being withheld in Pakistan and Gulf countries, Dhurandhar continues to do well at the Indian box office and beyond with a collection of over Rs10 billion. While it draws strong audiences in its official release markets, viewers in Pakistan are also allegedly finding ways to watch it online illegally.

Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sara Arjun, Sanjay Dutt, is spy thriller against the backdrop of 1999 Kandahar hijacking, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, and the Lyari gang wars.

According to reports, in just two weeks, the film has reportedly crossed two million illegal downloads in Pakistan, making it the most pirated movie in the country—surpassing Shah Rukh Khan's Raees.

Despite close monitoring of online activity, torrents, Telegram channels, VPN networks, and underground streaming links of Dhurandhar have flooded the internet. Servers that are adept at bypassing restrictions are allowing viewers in Pakistan to access the film. The print may not be perfect and crystal clear, but the viewers are curious to know why this film has worked wonders in India. Sources admit that the scale of piracy reflects not just defiance, but intense public curiosity around the film.

The portrayal of Lyari has triggered the strongest backlash.

Ironically, the controversy has only amplified the film’s reach. While some Pakistani viewers dispute its political messaging, many have openly praised the performances, flooding social media with clips, reels, and memes.

Starring Ranveer Singh as Hamza, an Indian spy operating inside Lyari to dismantle extremist networks, Dhurandhar also features Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Rakesh Bedi. And with the first film continuing to spark debate across borders, the makers have already locked the next chapter—Dhurandhar 2—for a high-profile Eid 2026 release, signalling that the franchise is only getting started.

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Manjusha RadhakrishnanEntertainment, Lifestyle and Sport Editor

Manjusha Radhakrishnan has been slaying entertainment news and celebrity interviews in Dubai for 18 years—and she’s just getting started. As Entertainment Editor, she covers Bollywood movie reviews, Hollywood scoops, Pakistani dramas, and world cinema. Red carpets? She’s walked them all—Europe, North America, Macau—covering IIFA (Bollywood Oscars) and Zee Cine Awards like a pro. She’s been on CNN with Becky Anderson dropping Bollywood truth bombs like Salman Khan Black Buck hunting conviction and hosted panels with directors like Bollywood’s Kabir Khan and Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh. She has also covered film festivals around the globe. Oh, and did we mention she landed the cover of Xpedition Magazine as one of the UAE’s 50 most influential icons? She was also the resident Bollywood guru on Dubai TV’s Insider Arabia and Saudi TV, where she dishes out the latest scoop and celebrity news. Her interview roster reads like a dream guest list—Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Shah Rukh Khan, Robbie Williams, Sean Penn, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Morgan Freeman. From breaking celeb news to making stars spill secrets, Manjusha doesn’t just cover entertainment—she owns it while looking like a star herself.