The trailer for Dhurandhar, an upcoming Bollywood spy-action film, has triggered a wave of conversation online and not for its action sequences alone. While positioned as a high-stakes thriller, many viewers in Pakistan feel the film leans heavily on a familiar pattern: a one-dimensional depiction of Pakistan and its people, shown through India’s cinematic lens rather than balanced storytelling.
Within hours of release, the trailer began circulating across social media in Pakistan, drawing criticism for its tone, casting choices and representation of local communities.
A Familiar Bollywood Formula?
Several Pakistani viewers pointed out that Dhurandhar seems to follow a long-running formula seen in previous spy and war thrillers:
- Indian actors playing all major Pakistani characters
- Heavy styling inspired by stereotypes rather than cultural accuracy
- Over-dramatised settings such as Lyari portrayed as a hyper-criminal zone
- Villains designed around exaggerated tropes instead of grounded narratives
This formula isn’t new — but audiences expected 2025’s cinema to move beyond the predictable.
Lyari Depicted Through a Stereotyped Lens
One of the most talked-about elements in the trailer is its depiction of Lyari. What should be a culturally rich, historically layered area is shown instead as an intense, crime-filled battleground.
For many viewers from Karachi, this felt reductive. Lyari’s diverse identity — from football heritage to vibrant street culture — rarely makes it to the screen, and Dhurandhar appears to repeat the same narrative Bollywood has used for decades.
Action Over Nuance
The trailer leans heavily on stylised violence, high-speed chases, dramatic standoffs and larger-than-life villains. While this approach appeals to fans of action cinema, it leaves little room for nuance — especially when dealing with cross-border themes.
For Pakistani audiences, the frustration comes from seeing real history replaced with spectacle, and layered communities reduced to background noise for dramatic effect.
Why Pakistani Viewers Are Speaking Up
For years, Pakistan has been underrepresented or misrepresented in regional cinema, often shown only as a political threat, a lawless space or a backdrop for espionage.
With international content now more accessible than ever, viewers expect cross-border storytelling to be more responsible, more researched and more reflective of reality.
The response to Dhurandhar shows that Pakistani audiences are paying attention — and they’re not afraid to call out narratives that reinforce outdated stereotypes.
What’s Next?
The film hasn’t released yet, and trailers don’t always reflect the full story. Some viewers are hopeful that the final movie may offer more balance, while others believe the trailer already sets the tone.
As the conversation continues, the debate highlights a bigger question: Should modern cinema still rely on clichés — or is it time for stories that represent both sides with equal depth?
