Pakistani journalist Arif Aajakia has come out in support of Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar, saying the controversial film largely mirrors real events despite criticism over its portrayal of crime syndicates in Karachi and India's counter-terror operations.
The Dhurandhar franchise has enjoyed widespread commercial success since the release of its first instalment in 2025 and its sequel earlier this year.
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While the films have been praised for their scale and storytelling, they have also drawn criticism from some quarters for depicting real-world events and criminal networks operating in Karachi's Lyari area, with detractors arguing that the narrative presents a one-sided account.
Speaking during an interaction with journalist Saurabh Dwivedi at Talk Journalism 2026, Aajakia said the events portrayed in the film were consistent with his own experiences.
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"I was the mayor of a town in Karachi, elected mayor during the period when Dhurandhar was done. I was born and raised in Lyari, so I knew that everything shown was true," Aajakia said in a video shared by ANI.
Aajakia also spoke about his family background and identity during the conversation.
"I was born in Karachi, but my parents were born in Junagadh, Gujarat. I consider myself to be of Indian origin, not Pakistani," he added.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar stars Ranveer Singh as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, an Indian intelligence operative on a covert mission inside Pakistan. The film also features R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Gaurav Gera, Rakesh Bedi, Sara Arjun, Danish Pandor, Udaybir Sandhu and Manav Gohil.
The franchise received a major boost with the release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge on March 19. The sequel emerged as the most successful film in the series, grossing over Rs 1,800 crore worldwide and becoming the second-highest-grossing Indian film of all time.
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