 "PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is being mocked on Indian social media. File Photo/Reuters")
Pakistani politician Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is making headlines in India. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman, whose party has filed a legal challenge against the Bollywood spy thriller Dhurandhar, was purportedly welcomed at an event while a popular song from the film was playing in the background.
The Ranveer Singh-starrer blockbuster movie has been banned in Pakistan for its portrayal of the country and government. Despite the ban, the film is reported to have caught the attention of Pakistanis.
We take a look.
Dhurandhar song at Bilawal Bhutto’s party
A video of PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto sitting on a stage at an event has gone viral on Indian social media. The clip shows the Pakistani leader chatting with men as FA9LA, a viral song by Bahraini artist Nawaf Fahed, aka Flipperachi, purportedly plays at the party.
The song has become a viral sensation after it featured in Dhurandhar. Actor Akshaye Khanna, who has received widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Pakistani don Rehman Dakait in the film, makes his entry on this song as he attends a Baloch wedding. The clips have gone viral, with Khanna’s performance making waves.
Dhurandhar’s viral song being played at an event attended by Bhutto has led to ridicule. X users are mocking the Pakistani politician and for the use of the song despite a ban on the film in the South Asian country.
One user wrote, “Cases against Dhurandhar in Pakistani courts, yet Bilawal enters to its beats! Our Bollywood is so epic, even they can’t resist!"
Another commented, “FIR in the morning, playlist in the evening."
His party, PPP, has reportedly filed a petition against Dhurandhar in a Karachi court for using images of the late Benazir Bhutto and sought an FIR against the cast and crew of the film.
The Hindi movie shows a fictional PPP rally, with party flags and images of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
A party leader called the film a “malicious distortion” for suggesting that the PPP was sympathetic to militants.
Dhurandhar shines in Pakistan despite ban
Islamabad banned Dhurandhar for its supposed “anti-Pakistan” stance. The Aditya Dhar-helmed movie is loosely based on the gang wars of Lyari, a historic locality of Pakistan’s Karachi.
The movie blends real-life events with fictional storytelling, portraying longstanding hostilities between India and Pakistan. Ranveer Singh plays an Indian secret agent who infiltrates Pakistan’s criminal network to dismantle terror networks, which are shown to be backed by Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI.
Dhurandhar merges the Lyari storyline with the 2008 Mumbai attacks. For this, the film has been criticised for factual inaccuracies.
The editorials, including in Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, have condemned the “negative portrayal” of the country.
Dhar’s decision to depict real Pakistani political figures had also stirred debates.
Sumeta Afzal Syed, a spokesperson for the Sindh government, condemned the “unlawful” use of Benazir Bhutto’s image. “The PPP has been a frontline victim of terrorism,” she wrote.
Not just Pakistan, six Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, have also reportedly banned Dhurandhar over the film’s perceived “anti-Pakistan” narrative.
Despite the ban in Pakistan, the Indian film has reached the neighbouring country. As per an IANS report, Dhurandhar has been illegally downloaded at least two million (20 lakh) times in Pakistan.
Besides Singh and Khanna, the star cast of the movie also includes Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi.
Pakistan’s film to counter Dhurandhar
Days after Dhurandhar’s release, the Sindh government has announced a counter movie titled Mera Lyari.
The new movie would tell the “authentic story of pride and prosperity” to counter “Indian propaganda”.
The counter film is directed by Abu Aleeha and produced by actor Ayesha Omar, who also stars in the movie. Popular actors Dananeer Mobeen and Samiya Mumtaz will also star in the Pakistani film.
As per media reports, Mera Lyari will focus on “authentic storytelling” and the production “aims to highlight the neighbourhood’s arts, music, sports, and daily life while avoiding stereotypical or negative depictions.”
“Misrepresentation cannot erase reality. Lyari stands for culture, peace, and resilience—not violence. While Dhurandhar spreads propaganda, Mera Lyari will soon tell the authentic story of pride and prosperity. #MeraLyari movie releasing in January 2026. Indian propaganda against Lyari will never be successful,” the Sindh government wrote on X.
With inputs from agencies