Watch | YouTuber exposes illegal sale of pirated 'Dhurandhar' in Pakistan despite ban

This 'open-secret' sale has triggered a wave of reactions from the netizens, who are calling out that a film banned for its content and its pirated versions is openly being sold in the market for pennies.

Even a multi-country ban couldn't slow down Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar. While several Gulf nations imposed a ban on the spy thriller, the global audience responded by pushing it into the history books with a massive Rs 1,300 crore lifetime collection at the box office. Dhurandhar’s dominance was not limited to theaters but also topped charts on OTT platform in 22 countries.

However, the film’s "unfiltered" popularity was recently highlighted by a vlogger who discovered that pirated copies are being sold on the streets for just PKR 50 (Rs 16).

Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar may be a "forbidden fruit" in Pakistan due to the ban, but it’s one that’s being consumed by the millions. New Zealand-based Karl Rock’s latest travel vlog has exposed the thriving underground market for the spy thriller, showing pirated copies stacked in massive numbers and being sold illegally.

This "open-secret" sale has triggered a wave of reactions from the netizens, who are calling out that a film banned for its content and its pirated versions are openly being sold in the market for pennies.

It’s an open secret that Indian pop culture has a massive craze in Pakistan; from chart-topping songs to family dramas, the love for Indian content in the neighbouring country has always impressed many. However, Karl Rock’s recent expose has pulled back the curtain on a messy contradiction. By showing a banned film being peddled on the streets, he has ignited a firestorm of online debate, with netizens clashing over the ethics of consuming "forbidden" content and the reality of cross-border fandom.

Meanwhile, Aditya Dhar’s spy drama has shattered and rewritten all the records, and now the audience is eagerly awaiting the sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Backed by Jyoti Deshpande, Aditya Dhar and Lokesh Dhar under the banners of Jio Studios and B62 Studios.

The movie stars Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and others in key roles. Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar: The Revenge is scheduled for theatrical release on March 19, 2026, coinciding with Eid al-Fitr, Gudi Padwa, and Ugadi. The movie will clash with the Kannada film Toxic and the Malayalam film Aadu 3.