New Delhi: Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar has not only broken global box office records, but the espionage thriller continues to dominate conversations internationally.
Set primarily in the Lyari neighborhood of Pakistan, the film takes inspiration from real-life events and figures. One such character is Jamil Jamali, played by Rakesh Bedi, who is reportedly inspired by former Pakistani politician Nabeel Gabol. Gabol has now reacted to the portrayal and expressed his displeasure.
Also Read: Sandeep Reddy Vanga praises Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar’, calls it impactful and terrifying
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Pak politician’s reaction on depiction in Dhurandhar
Nabil Gabol, a former member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, has also served as the Minister of State for Ports and Shipping. It is widely speculated that Bedi’s character in Dhurandhar is based on him.
Recently, while speaking to the media, Gabol was asked whether he would approach international forums to ban the film, which has drawn criticism in Pakistan for allegedly “maligning the country’s image”. The former MNA responded that he did not have the financial means to do so, but criticized the film, especially its portrayal of the character.
The video clip begins with a reporter saying, “A film has been made in India, Dhurandhar. It is heard that your character is also there in it.”
Responding to this, Gabol said, “My character has been shown to be very important. But I just want to say one thing that my character shown in Dhurandhar was very dabangg. And dabangg was in such a way that it did not show my role in the right way.”
(“My character was shown to be very important in the film. But I just want to say that the way my character has been portrayed is not accurate. My role was to be courageous, but it has not been portrayed correctly.”)
Gabol, who was born in Lyari and served as an elected member of the Sindh Provincial Assembly from 1988 to 1997, also criticized the portrayal of the area in the film. He said, “They have tried to show Lyari as a terrorist hub. Lyari is not a terrorist hub. If any of their agents had come, he would not have left Lyari alive.”
(“They have tried to portray Lyari as a terrorist centre, which it is not. If their agent had come there, he would not have returned alive.”)
About Dhurandhar
Dhurandhar is the story of an Indian spy who infiltrates a terrorist network based in Lyari. The film stars Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi and newcomer Sara Arjun in lead roles.
Ranveer Singh plays the role of an undercover Indian operative named Hamza Ali Mazari, who ingratiates himself with Pakistan’s criminal underworld and political system. His character Rehman infiltrates a gang led by a dacoit, played by Akshaye Khanna.
The film ends on a cliffhanger, and the makers confirm a sequel. Dhurandhar Part 2 is scheduled to release in March 2026.