Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar Reaches Pakistan’s Piracy Market, Selling For Just Rs. 16 On Karachi Streets

Dhurandhar’s Pirated DVDs In Pakistan Reveal Bollywood’s Unstoppable Cultural Reach Beyond Political Barriers

Dhurandhar’s journey takes an unexpected turn. Months after dominating the box office and streaming charts, Ranveer Singh’s action spectacle has surfaced in Pakistan’s market, not in multiplexes, but on a street corner in Karachi.
A viral video from the city’s Rainbow Centre shows pirated copies of the film being sold for PKR 50, roughly Rs. 16, a price that has stunned fans and trade watchers alike.

A Banned Film, a Thriving Demand

Indian films have not had an official theatrical release in Pakistan for years, but the absence of a formal channel has done little to diminish audience interest.

In the now-circulating clip, a vendor casually displays Dhurandhar alongside other recent titles, quoting its price with the ease of a routine sale. The moment feels ordinary, and that is precisely what makes it striking.

The film’s presence in a market where it cannot legally be released points to a deeper cultural continuity. Hindi cinema still travels across the border through memory, music, stars, and, increasingly, digital files.

Long before the pirated DVDs appeared in Karachi, Dhurandhar had already found a viewership on streaming platforms in Pakistan, quietly topping charts without any official promotion.

Piracy as a Measure of Popularity

For the film trade, the episode carries a paradox. Piracy represents loss, yet it also signals demand. In a territory that offers no theatrical revenue, the circulation of illegal copies becomes an informal barometer of a film’s reach.

Dhurandhar is being sold in physical form, in an era dominated by OTT, suggesting its appeal cuts across class and access divides. Industry insiders often read such moments as proof of star power.

Ranveer Singh’s post-release surge, marked by global chatter and strong digital performance, now extends into a country where audiences are technically not allowed to watch his film on the big screen.

Beyond Borders, beyond Policy

Back home, the viral video has triggered a mix of pride and concern. Pride, because the film has travelled purely on audience curiosity. Concern, since the persistence of piracy continues to challenge the business of cinema.

However, there is also a humane factor that remains: the passerby on the Karachi street who stopped at the street stall, paid an equivalent of Rs 16, and walked home with a story that was not officially released in the country. It once again shows that entertainment never cares about geographical barriers, even if it’s related to India and Pakistan.