Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar focuses on Lyari’s past of political-crime nexus
As Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’ revives the lawless history of Karachi’s Lyari, however, journalist Kahkshan Bukhari from India Today details the lived-in reality of the neighborhood beyond gangwars and criminal legend Uzair Baloch.
Lyari area of Karachi in Pakistan is currently a topic of discussion due to the upcoming action drama Dhurandhar. The film depicts Lyari as a focal point of illegal activities and constant gang conflicts. However, a closer look reveals a different reality:
Lyari has vibrant, colorful buildings, huge football fields and kids rapping – this is the real face of Lyari. Pakistani journalist Kahkshan Bukhari shared the real story of Lyari in an interview India Today,
Aditya Dhar’s eagerly awaited action drama Dhurandhar, which is reportedly based on real events, has garnered significant attention on social media. The trailer depicts intense shootouts, criminal intrigue and a dangerous underworld scenario, generating interest in both India and Pakistan.
Ranveer Singh’s character appears to be inspired by Uzair Baloch, cousin of notorious dacoit Rehman, whose criminal influence once defined Lyari as the scariest neighborhood in Karachi.
Gang war and political patronage are prevalent in Karachi
Karachi, Pakistan’s commercial capital, has been shaped by violent sectarian clashes and brutal wars for decades. But no area became as synonymous with fear as Lyari. Once a bustling, working-class part of the city, Lyari gradually transformed into the epicenter of Karachi’s gangland operations – home to drug routes, extortion networks, murders and shootouts that could last for days. At the center of this bloody empire stood Rahman the dacoit. Often referred to by locals as Robin Hood, Rahman built a vast criminal syndicate that brought in drugs, weapons, dirty money – and endless violence.
According to Karachi-based journalist Zile Haider, Rehman’s hold became so strong that he developed close political ties with leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Lyari, effectively, became his fief. But when its influence became inconvenient, the state moved ahead.
Enter Choudhary Aslam – the man who has been tasked with cleaning up Lyari
To break the hold of Rehman’s gang, Karachi Police brought in its most feared officer, Chaudhry Aslam, an encounter specialist known for tracking down high-profile terrorists and gangsters. Zil Haider says that Aslam was specifically assigned the task of crushing Lyari’s mafia network. Confrontation was inevitable – and violent. Rehman the dacoit was eventually killed in an encounter, leaving a huge void in the underworld of Lyari. That void was filled almost immediately.
Uzair Baloch takes power – and Lyari plunges into chaos
After Rehman left, Uzair Baloch – his cousin, associate and once a prominent transport businessman – stepped into the leadership.
Uzair’s rise was motivated by both vengeance and political expediency: his father, Mama Faizu, was murdered by gangster Arshad Pappu, sparking a deadly bloody feud. Uzair and Rehman had already formed a bond over this shared vendetta. After Rehman’s death, Uzair declared war on Arshad Pappu – a conflict that ended with Pappu’s brutal murder.
According to Zil Haider: Uzair and other Lyari gangsters were used as a political force against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). He eventually became one of the most powerful – and feared – gangsters in Karachi. Over the years, more than 100 cases were registered against him, including murder, kidnapping, torture, extortion and terrorism. In January this year, Uzair was acquitted of double murder citing lack of evidence – a reminder of how deep his influence ran.
And now, a Bollywood film revives the ghosts of Lyari
While the creator of stalwart While the real-life parallels have not been publicly confirmed, the trailer’s imagery – gangs, betrayals, political nexus – has clearly caused consternation in Pakistan. For India, this is a big action film.
For Karachi, this feels like the reopening of old wounds. And for Lyari – a neighborhood that has always been torn between myth, fear and survival – the film is bringing long-buried stories back into public memory. As Dhurandhar gears up for release, one thing is clear: Lyari’s past is no longer just a Karachi story – it is becoming cinema’s next obsession.
stalwart Set for theatrical release on December 5, 2025.