Rehman Dakait’s Friend Praises Dhurandhar: ‘Bollywood Did What Pakistan Couldn’t’

Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller Dhurandhar has garnered unexpected praise from someone close to its real-life subject. Habib Jan Baloch, a lawyer and friend of Rehman Dakait, has commended the film for what he believes is a meaningful tribute. In a widely circulated video, Baloch expressed gratitude to Bollywood, saying, “What Pakistan did not do, India’s Bollywood did.”

A Different Perspective on the Character

Despite watching the film twice, Baloch emphasized that contrary to the movie’s portrayal, Rehman was not a villain but a hero and good man. According to Baloch, Rehman’s contributions to Pakistan were significant enough that “Had Rehman and Uzair Baloch not been there, then Pakistan’s face would have been like Bangladesh today, or even worse.” The lawyer, who knew Rehman two decades ago, argued that the film was not politically biased against any party.

Box Office Blockbuster Status

Dhurandhar, set in Lyari, Karachi during the early 2000s gang violence era, has become a massive commercial success. Starring Ranveer Singh as an Indian spy, Akshaye Khanna as Rehman Dakait, and featuring Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal, the film has collected over ₹1000 crore worldwide. It now ranks as the fourth-highest-grossing Bollywood film ever, proving that audiences have embraced this gritty spy thriller blending fiction with real historical events.

While members of the Pakistan People’s Party have criticized the film’s portrayal of their party, Baloch’s remarks highlight how different interpretations of Rehman’s legacy exist.