Bollywood has long had a flair for dramatizing Pakistan on screen — complete with exaggerated accents, liberal use of “adaab”, and storylines that often lean more toward propaganda than reality. Accuracy, more often than not, becomes a casualty. Dhurandhar, India’s latest spy thriller set in Karachi’s historic Lyari neighborhood, appears to follow that well-worn path.
Now, Pakistan is pushing back — not with statements alone, but through cinema itself.
On Saturday, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced Mera Lyari, a Pakistani feature film aimed at countering what he described as Bollywood’s “negative propaganda” against Pakistan. According to Memon, the film seeks to reclaim the narrative around Lyari, portraying it not as a den of crime and conflict, but as a community defined by peace, resilience, and pride.
While details about the storyline remain under wraps, the minister confirmed that Mera Lyari is scheduled for release next month. Posters shared alongside the announcement offered a glimpse into the project’s creative team and cast.
The film boasts a notable ensemble including Ayesha Omar, Dananeer Mobeen, Samiya Mumtaz, Nayyar Ejaz, Trinette Lucas, Paras Masroor, Adnan Shah Tipu, and Shoaib Khan. Written and directed by Abu Aleeha — known for Taxali Gate — the film is executive produced by Ayesha Omar under her banner, Hawksbay Productions.
The announcement comes amid growing controversy surrounding Dhurandhar. Last week, Indian media reported that the film was denied clearance in several Gulf countries due to its alleged anti-Pakistan themes. The move echoed earlier decisions taken against similar films, including Fighter (2024), which depicted a dramatized version of India’s 2019 airstrikes inside Pakistan.
Legal challenges have also emerged at home. A supporter of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) filed an application in a Karachi district court seeking to register a case against Dhurandhar’s director, producer, and cast. The petitioner alleged that the film’s trailer used the PPP’s flag, footage from party rallies, and imagery resembling the late party chairperson Benazir Bhutto without permission. According to the complaint, the trailer portrays the PPP as being sympathetic to terrorists.
As Dhurandhar continues to stir debate, Mera Lyari is positioning itself as more than just a film — it is being framed as a cinematic rebuttal, one that aims to tell Lyari’s story through a lens shaped by those who call it home.