Former Pakistani lawmaker Nabil Gabol not happy with his portrayal in Dhurandhar, says 'Agar inka koi agent Lyari aa jata toh...'

Former Pakistani lawmaker Nabil Gabol has publicly criticised his depiction in the Bollywood spy thriller Dhurandhar, calling the portrayal inaccurate and objecting to how his hometown of Lyari is shown in the film. Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, centres on an Indian spy infiltrating criminal networks in Pakistan’s Lyari to expose ties with terror groups, blending historical events with fictional elements. The movie features several characters inspired by real-life figures, including a politician named Jameel Jamali, played by Rakesh Bedi, whose role is widely understood to be based on Gabol.

Speaking to the media in Pakistan, Gabol, a former Member of the National Assembly and Minister of State for Ports and Shipping, expressed disappointment that his screen persona did not reflect his real-life “dabbang” (assertive) image. “Jo mera role dikhaya gaya hai, mera role bahut dabbang tha, or dabbang iss tareeke se tha ki inhone mere role ko sahi tareeke se nahi dikhaya (I was very audacious. But they haven’t shown me the way I was). They have not shown me the way I was,” Gabol said, adding that some scenes exaggerated aspects of his depiction for dramatic effect.

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Gabol also took issue with the film’s depiction of Lyari, a neighbourhood in Karachi, asserting it was unfairly presented as a “terrorist hub.” “Inhone koshish kari hai Lyari ko terrorist hub dikhane ki, Lyari koi terrorist hub nahi hai. Agar inka koi agent aa jata toh woh zinda-salammat Lyari se nahi jata. (They have tried to show Lyari as a terrorist hub, which it is not. And if there agent had been there, he would not have gone back alive from Lyari),” he said.

When asked whether he would pursue an international ban on the film for what he called its inaccurate representation, Gabol replied frankly that he lacks the financial resources to do so.

The response from Pakistan comes amid a broader debate over Dhurandhar’s political framing. The film, which has crossed significant box office milestones domestically and overseas, has also been banned in several Middle Eastern countries for perceived anti-Pakistani content, while being widely circulated via unofficial channels in Pakistan.