Dhurandhar is trending and is on top of the charts on Netflix in Pakistan just days after its digital release, ahead of Bollywood films like Tere Ishk Mein and Haq, as well as The Big Fake.
The film premiered on Netflix worldwide on Friday, January 30, eight weeks after its theatrical release. The Ranveer Singh-starrer’s top spot was confirmed with screenshots shared on social media over the weekend, which Hindustan Times independently verified.
The spy thriller, directed by Aditya Dhar, stars Ranveer Singh as an Indian spy infiltrating the gangs of Pakistan’s Lyari. It blends real incidents and real-life figures with a fictional narrative about India’s war against terror.
While Dhurandhar was not released theatrically in Pakistan, the country has not allowed Indian films for several years, its Netflix debut has sparked substantial buzz.
As per reports, Pakistani viewers have responded positively as a reddit review said, “As a Pakistani, it’s the best ever Bollywood movie i ever watched. First time I saw a film where actual research has been done and there’s no use of ‘adaab’ ‘janaab’ surma kajal topi and vest to show Pakistanis. and thank you for showing a political party linked to crimes (I won’t take the name you guys will get it as it’s mentioned in movie ) and exposing them. I have high expectations from part 2 BUT PLEASE PLEASE LET CHAUDHARY ASLAM BE A POSITIVE CHARACTER IT’S MY REQUEST HE WAS NOT A NEGATIVE CHARACTER. Fantastic movie, casting, shooting, story everything’s on point.”
Another Pakistani viewer echoed the sentiment and said, “I’m Pakistani and I love Dhurandhar. Y’all gotta stop creating this narrative that we hate you guys and vice versa. It’s all love from my side. Don’t be rude. Many others expressed interest in repeat viewings.”
Some viewers noted that the film did not demonise Pakistan but portrayed it realistically as one comment stated, “The movie actually portrayed pakistan well (the weapon gangs and politics) and sprinkled opinion politics on India. There’s nothing against Pakistan people in the movie. But so much against Indian people lol. Excellent movie. Share the same opinion as kashyap on the movie,” referencing Anurag Kashyap’s review which praised the film’s craftsmanship while noting some questionable politics.
Dhurandhar has been a major box office success, grossing Rs 1,300 crore worldwide and becoming the second-highest-grossing Bollywood film ever. The cast also includes Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal. A sequel is set to release on March 19.
The movie already etched its name in Indian cinema history as it earlier crossed the Rs 1,000 crore mark at the global box office in its fourth week in theatres. Released on December 5, the film emerged as one of the biggest blockbusters the industry has ever seen.
Dhurandhar emerged as a refreshing and unapologetically bold entrant in Bollywood’s espionage genre, rejecting the glossy, larger-than-life formula that defined many of its predecessors.
Where earlier blockbusters leaned heavily on spectacle and glamour, Dhurandhar dives into the murky realism of intelligence work, crafting a narrative that feels grounded, tense, and psychologically layered.
The film does not rely on exaggerated heroism or romantic escapades to drive the story forward. Instead, it presents espionage as a world built on secrecy, sacrifice, and moral ambiguity, setting itself apart from the mainstream thrillers that dominated the decade.
One of the central criticisms audiences have had about films like Pathaan, War, Ek Tha Tiger, and Tiger Zinda Hai is their reliance on hyper-stylized storytelling. These movies often portrayed international intelligence agencies in improbably harmonious ways or inserted romance between opposing operatives as a dramatic centerpiece.
These creative choices, while commercially successful, frequently diluted the seriousness of their narratives. Instead of leaning into the inherent tension of geopolitical conflict, they introduced melodramatic twists and glossy emotional arcs that sometimes felt out of place in a spy thriller. The result was a cinematic tone that many viewers found overly idealized or even childish.
Dhurandhar consciously breaks away from that pattern. While working firmly within the realm of fiction, it avoids depicting rival intelligence services through a sanitized or overly friendly lens.Instead, the film embraces the competitive, high-stakes atmosphere that defines espionage in most cinematic traditions.
It shows the complexities of distrust, strategic manipulation, and relentless pressure without relying on sentimental shortcuts or convenient alliances.Importantly, it does so without making factual claims about any real-world intelligence agency.
Rather, it uses fictionalized portrayals to explore the psychological intensity of a profession where trust is rare and danger is constant.
Earlier on January 20, Haq was trending at No. 1 on Netflix in Nigeria, a reception underscoring the film’s universal appeal. The film’s narrative appeared to resonate deeply because it reflects lived experiences that many women encounter on a daily basis, making its story feel less like distant fiction and more like a mirror of reality.
