Lyari, a once notorious town in Pakistan, has been thrust into the global spotlight thanks to its portrayal in Ranveer Singh's blockbuster film Dhurandhar, which was released in December last year. The film's core plot centers around this locality, known for its underworld activities and its association with the infamous Baloch gang. Since its release, Dhurandhar has become a massive success, and the sequel is currently shattering records at the global box office. As a result, Lyari has captured the attention of the media and the general public alike, sparking conversations everywhere.
Despite facing a theatrical ban in Pakistan over its alleged anti-Pakistan themes, Dhurandhar enjoyed unprecedented viewership on the Netflix platform. The sequel, which also faces a ban in Pakistan, has not deterred the people of Lyari, who are closely monitoring the film's global success. In a surprising turn of events, residents of Lyari have made a rather unusual request. They have demanded a share of the film's earnings—specifically 500 crore, or even as much as 70-80% of the film's total collections—to be allocated for the development of basic amenities in their city.
This unexpected demand came through a YouTube channel interaction, where local residents earnestly appealed to director Aditya Dhar, asking him to contribute to the welfare of their town. In the viral videos, residents expressed their belief that Dhurandhar—a film that reportedly grossed over 1000 crore—should allocate a portion of its earnings for repairing the town’s crumbling infrastructure. Some even suggested that 70-80% of the earnings be given to the town to improve essential services, including the repair of roads that have become nearly impossible to walk on, especially for children.
The reaction from Lyari's residents highlights not only the massive success and international reception of Dhurandhar but also underscores the dire state of some towns in Pakistan that continue to suffer from a lack of support from the government. It is noteworthy that the scenes involving Lyari in both Dhurandhar and its sequel were shot on a special set built in Thailand, where the town was recreated for cinematic purposes. While the demand from Lyari residents may seem unusual, it serves as a reminder of the socioeconomic challenges many communities face and their hopes for external support to improve their living conditions.
