'Dhurandhar' is out, and the familiar India-Pakistan arguments are back online
FI
Home Propaganda, misrepresentation and the question of who owns the story dominate social media How many times are we going to watch this same story play out? Bollywood takes a slice of Pakistan’s history, strips away the political context, sprinkles in some glossy action, and wraps it up in familiar patriotic overtones. With the release of Dhurandhar on December 5—very loosely based on Karachi’s Lyari gang war—audiences on both sides of the border found themselves trapped in yet another round of déjà vu. The film, stacked with high-profile actors, has sparked mixed reactions. But for once, the divide is not between India and Pakistan—people within each country are split among themselves. Pakistanis quickly clocked the propaganda, but many were also frustrated with their own entertainment industry for refusing to tell the stories that actually belong to them.
Published: December 11, 2025 1:07 pm
Source: The Express Tribune — Read original