Dhurandhar movie: How Pakistan's Lyari was created in Thailand

At first glance, the world of Lyari town in Dhurandhar feels unmistakably South Asian, gritty lanes, ageing walls plastered with torn posters, and a lived-in chaos that mirrors the character of the story. But what viewers don’t see on screen is that none of it was filmed in Mumbai or Pakistan. Instead, the entire Lyari setting was painstakingly built in Thailand, following a last-minute logistical shift driven by weather realities.

According to behind-the-scenes details shared by the film’s team, the makers initially planned to shoot the Lyari portions in Mumbai. However, unpredictable weather conditions and persistent rain made extended outdoor shoots impractical. Faced with tight schedules and the need for controlled conditions, the production opted to recreate the neighbourhood on a massive set in Thailand.

What followed was an elaborate exercise in world-building. A combined Indian and Thai crew worked closely to construct Lyari town from scratch, focusing on authenticity rather than scale alone. Set designers sourced old Pakistani posters, Urdu newspapers, and period-specific visual cues, ensuring that every frame reflected the cultural and historical texture of the locality the film was depicting.

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The challenge wasn’t just building Lyari, it was hiding Thailand completely. The team was reportedly meticulous about eliminating any visual markers that could reveal the set’s actual location. From architecture and street layouts to background textures and signage, every detail was scrutinised so that no Thai element slipped into the final frame.

Production designers paid particular attention to ageing techniques, creating weathered walls, faded paint, cluttered corners and layered posters to make the set feel organically lived-in rather than newly constructed. The result is a setting that just doesn’t announce itself as a “set”, but quietly blends into the narrative, allowing the characters and story to take centre stage.

For anyone who has seen the film, Lyari town is more than just a background - it feels like a living, breathing character in 'Dhurandhar'. It is the place where power brews, and whose control is central to gaining control all over Karachi and Pakistan.