Ranveer Singh’s Spy Film Setting Blurs Fact and Fiction, Drawing Strong Questions.
Mumbai – November 18, 2025:The trailer for Ranveer Singh’s upcoming action-thriller, Dhurandhar, has generated intense debate for its portrayal of Lyari, Karachi. The film, directed by Aditya Dhar, has positioned the historic neighborhood as the “very core of terrorism” and the site of a major Indian spy operation.
CONTROVERSY IGNITES: Ranveer Singh’s new film, Dhurandhar, is under fire for controversially depicting Karachi’s Lyari—known for its complex gang history and vibrant culture—as a central hub for cross-border terrorism and espionage. The trailer’s narrative, which sends an Indian spy (Singh) into the area to “wipe out terrorism,” has triggered questions from commentators about its factual accuracy and narrative sensationalism.
The narrative has sparked discussion because it connects a known gang conflict zone with a high-stakes international spy mission. The film features characters reportedly inspired by real-life figures, including R. Madhavan’s role as Ajay Sanyal (modeled on Indian NSA Ajit Doval) and Sanjay Dutt’s character, “The Jinn,” based on the late Karachi counter-terror officer Chaudhry Aslam Khan. This blending of real-world names and places with a fictional espionage plot has heightened the confusion.
producers state the film is “inspired by true events,” the specific focus on Lyari as a terrorist nerve center—a claim not aligned with its public image—is the main point of contention. The film, which also stars Akshaye Khanna as a Lyari gang leader, is scheduled for a worldwide release on December 5, 2025
