The ban on the Ranveer Singh starrer ‘Dhurandhar’ in Pakistan, has reportedly done little to curb its popularity. At a time when the film has been raking in the big bucks and shattering box office records with its golden run, reports state that the spy film has hit a new unlikely high – it has now become the most pirated film in Pakistan.
‘Dhurandhar’ becomes most pirated film in Pakistan
Despite being banned in the country and other select Gulf nations, the Aditya Dhar directorial has seen a sharp rise in piracy in Pakistan, with an estimated 2 million illegal downloads recorded within the first two weeks of its release, reports IANS.
If accurate, this would make ‘Dhurandhar’ the most pirated film in the country to date, surpassing earlier titles such as the Rajinikanth starrer ‘2.0’ and Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Raees’.
‘Dhurandhar’ box office performance
As per trade reports, the theatrical ban may have resulted in a potential revenue loss of around Rs 50–60 crore. Despite the loss, the film has managed to cross the Rs 500 crore gross mark in India and even amass Rs 140 crore from international markets. This indicates that the film stands to surpass the Rs 700 crore mark by the end of its second week at the worldwide box office.
How fans are accessing pirated ‘Dhurandhar’
All the hype and buzz around the film has only seemed to fuel the curiosity among Pakistani audiences, contributing to its widespread circulation on various piracy platforms. Reports claim that the film is being accessed through torrent sites, Telegram channels, underground streaming links and VPN services. As per the report, these servers based in countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal and Malaysia are being used to facilitate illegal access to the film within Pakistan.While some viewers reportedly criticised the film’s narrative, there have been others who have voiced appreciation for the performances. Some Pakistani fans have even hopped on board the film’s social media buzz by creating reels and memes.
‘Dhurandhar’ in legal trouble
Meanwhile, the controversy has also taken a legal turn. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has reportedly filed a petition in a Karachi court objecting to the use of images of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in the film. The plea seeks the registration of an FIR against the cast and crew of ‘Dhurandhar’.‘Dhurandhar’ stars Ranveer Singh in the role of Hamza, an Indian intelligence officer who infiltrates Pakistan’s Lyari area to dismantle terror networks. The ensemble cast also includes Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and Rakesh Bedi. Go to Source
