Lyari locals demand share of earnings from Dhurandhar in viral reel

A video from Pakistan’s Lyari has suddenly taken over social media laced with sarcasm, sharp criticism, and a dose of uncomfortable truth. The viral clip features local residents demanding an 80 per cent share of the profits from Aditya Dhar’s recently released film Dhurandhar, arguing that one of its prominent sequences borrows heavily from Lyari’s backdrop, styled with aesthetics reminiscent of 1999 and 2009.

The one-minute 34-second reel shared on X captures a group of Lyari residents reacting to Dhurandhar largely because of its city-centric setup. Lyari, one of Karachi’s most densely populated localities, functions as a city of high crime in the film.

What do Lyari residents have to say?

While one man points out that there can't be any financial benefit simply because a locality appears in a film, another, layered with sarcasm, urges Aditya Dhar to share his profits. He justifies the demand by stating it wouldn’t be much of a sacrifice for the filmmaker who is anyway expected to continue making films in the near future.

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The demands then escalate theatrically. One resident suggests that half of the film’s income should be shared, while others throw around ransom figures ranging from 5 to 20 crore. One man argues the money could even help build a hospital, while another casually settles at 12 crore.

Amid the humour, a more grounded suggestion surfaces, stating that instead of cash, Dhar could invest directly in Lyari itself, including making changes to Cheel Chowk, the neighbourhood’s iconic eagle roundabout.

Midway through the reel, the tone shifts. A resident objects to Lyari’s portrayal, stating that while gang violence remains part of their reality, “It no longer defines Lyari.” According to him, the town has moved far ahead of its past. Another speaker cuts through the satire, acknowledging that, regardless of the noise, Lyari’s residents are unlikely to receive even an ounce of the film’s income.

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Dhurandhar in theatres

Meanwhile Dhurandhar has been roaring in theatres since its December 5 release, featuring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and Sara Arjun. Lyari’s portrayal simultaneously stays alive in reels and memes.

The film presents Lyari through a hard-edged lens of gang violence, terrorism, police crackdowns, drug trade, and an arms race forming its visual backbone. The gritty aesthetic has struck a chord with audiences, particularly the detailed production design. Notably, the Lyari-inspired neighbourhood was recreated in Bangkok, Thailand, across a sprawling six-acre set underscoring the scale and intent behind recreating the locality’s mood and memory.