Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller Dhurandhar has achieved a surprising milestone overseas. Despite never getting a theatrical release in Pakistan, the Ranveer Singh-starrer is currently trending at number one on Netflix Pakistan, just days after its global OTT premiere.
The film, which released digitally on January 30, around eight weeks after its theatrical debut quickly climbed to the top of Netflix’s Pakistan film charts. Screenshots of its #1 ranking began circulating on social media over the weekend, and Hindustan Times independently confirmed the trend. Dhurandhar has outperformed several popular titles on the platform, highlighting its strong cross-border appeal.
Dhurandhar has already proven to be a massive box office success, grossing around ₹1300 crore worldwide and becoming the second-highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time. Although it did not release theatrically in Pakistan and parts of the Middle East, the film still earned over $33 million overseas. Distributors had earlier claimed that the absence from these markets resulted in a potential loss of nearly $10 million, an estimate that now appears credible given the film’s streaming performance.
Online reactions from Pakistani viewers have been largely positive. Many praised the film’s research, performances, and storytelling, with several viewers stating that it avoided stereotypical portrayals and focused instead on crime, politics, and espionage. Some also noted that the film did not demonise ordinary Pakistanis, a factor that may have contributed to its popularity.
Starring Ranveer Singh as an Indian spy infiltrating criminal networks in Pakistan’s Lyari area, Dhurandhar blends real-life incidents with a fictional narrative centered on India’s fight against terrorism. The film also features Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal in key roles.
With a sequel slated for release on March 19, Dhurandhar’s strong OTT reception suggests its impact is far from over.
