In a surprising turn of events, a viral video featuring Habib Jan Baloch—a lawyer, Baloch nationalist, and long-time associate of the notorious Pakistani gangster Abdul Rehman Baloch, better known as Rehman Dakait—has ignited debates across borders. Baloch thanked Bollywood for “doing what Pakistan couldn’t” by spotlighting Dakait in the blockbuster spy thriller Dhurandhar, while insisting the real-life figure was a “hero” who protected his community.
Released on December 5, 2025, Dhurandhar—directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh as an undercover Indian agent—has emerged as one of the year’s biggest hits. The film, set against the backdrop of Karachi’s violent Lyari neighbourhood in the 2000s, features Akshaye Khanna in a breakout role as a menacing gangster inspired by Rehman Dakait. Khanna’s charismatic yet terrifying portrayal, complete with viral dance sequences and commanding screen presence, has earned widespread acclaim, often stealing the spotlight from the lead.
The movie has shattered box office records, crossing the ₹1,000 crore mark globally in just 21 days to become the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025. With strong performances from an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal, Dhurandhar blends high-stakes espionage with gritty underworld drama, drawing loosely from real events like the Lyari gang wars.
In the viral interview, Habib Jan Baloch revealed he watched the film twice and praised its overall quality. However, he sarcastically remarked, “What Pakistan did not do, India’s Bollywood did. Thank you, Bollywood!” He described Dakait as a protector of Lyari and Karachi from “outsiders and foreign influence,” claiming the gangster did “favours for Pakistan” and saved the nation from worse fates. Baloch, who knew Dakait for two decades, argued that without figures like him and his cousin Uzair Baloch, “Pakistan’s face would have been like Bangladesh today, or even worse.”
This portrayal contrasts sharply with the historical record. Rehman Dakait (1976–2009) rose to infamy in Lyari, a impoverished Karachi suburb plagued by gang violence, poverty, and political neglect. Starting young—he allegedly stabbed a man at 13 and was accused of killing his mother at 15 over suspected ties to rivals—Dakait became a feared leader involved in extortion, kidnappings, drug trafficking, illegal arms, and murders. He controlled vast territories through brutal gang wars, formed the People’s Aman Committee (with alleged ties to the Pakistan Peoples Party), and carried a bounty before his death in a controversial 2009 police encounter.
While some in Lyari viewed him as a Robin Hood-like figure defending the Baloch community, official accounts and widespread reports label him a ruthless criminal whose actions paralysed the area for years.
Baloch’s comments, laced with irony, highlight divided legacies: cinema’s glamourisation versus grim reality. As Dhurandhar continues its triumphant run, it has inadvertently reopened old wounds, sparking discussions on crime, nationalism, and how stories of controversial figures are told.
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