Mumbai: The digital world is currently gripped by a massive "Reel vs. Real" moment as authentic footage from the infamous Operation Lyari has resurfaced online. The archival video is trending globally, perfectly timed with the massive success of Aditya Dhar’s latest blockbuster, Dhurandhar: The Revenge (Dhurandhar 2).

As the film shatters every 2026 box office record, fans have found that the cinematic intensity of Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of SP Chaudhary Aslam is backed by chilling real-world accuracy.

In the clip, the late "encounter specialist" Chaudhary Aslam Khan is seen navigating volatile gang-war zones with the same stoic bravado depicted by Dutt on screen.

Social media users have been quick to praise director Aditya Dhar’s commitment to authenticity. One specific sequence in Dhurandhar 2, featuring an over-enthusiastic reporter caught in a heavy crossfire, has been identified as a near-identical recreation of the viral archival clip. Comments like "Operation Lyari real footage, correctly depicted in Dhurandhar: The Revenge" and "Aditya Dhar’s detailing is next level" are currently flooding platforms like X and Instagram.

The connection between the actor and the officer goes deeper than just a costume. The real-life Chaudhary Aslam was a self-proclaimed fan of Sanjay Dutt’s "tough-guy" persona, making the casting a perfect connection for the audience. Aslam survived nine assassination attempts before he died in 2014.

"Sanjay Dutt was the perfect casting, man," wrote one fan.