Akshaye Khanna’s turn as the menacing Rehman Baloch in Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller ‘Dhurandhar’ is drawing widespread acclaim, with many viewers noting that the real-life figure was even more terrifying than his on-screen portrayal. While Ranveer Singh fronts the film, it is Khanna’s chilling performance that has captured public attention and sparked renewed curiosity about the Karachi gangster who once dominated Lyari.

Set in the turbulent late-2000s landscape of Karachi, ‘Dhurandhar’ loosely adapts incidents from India’s covert operations in Pakistan. Khanna’s character, introduced as Rehman Dakait, stands at the centre of Lyari’s criminal network – a role rooted in the life of one of Pakistan’s most notorious underworld figures.

A feared crime lord from Lyari

Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch, widely known as Rehman Dakait, rose from the dense and violence-scarred lanes of Lyari. Born in 1975 to a family with deep criminal ties, he entered the drug trade as a boy and was barely in his teens when he was believed to have stabbed a man – the first incident that cemented his reputation as a brutal offender.

According to reports from that era, Rehman committed one of his most shocking acts at the age of 19 when he strangled his mother and hung her from a ceiling fan. ‘Dhurandhar’ recreates the incident with creative liberties, drawing attention to the darkness that shaped his early years.

Rehman later joined the gang led by Haji Laloo in the late 1990s and assumed control after Laloo’s arrest in 2001. With Uzair Baloch – played by Danish Pandor in the film – as his second-in-command and Baba Ladla as a key enforcer, Rehman transformed Lyari into an empire of extortion, trafficking, contract killings and political influence.

One particularly grisly account, mentioned by The Daily Guardian, claimed that his associates Baba Ladla and Uzair would “play football” with the decapitated heads of rival gang members at Rehman’s instruction – a gruesome display meant to reinforce his dominance.

Gang wars and a reign of terror

Karachi’s gangland rivalry intensified under Rehman’s command. His principal adversary was Arshad Pappu, the son of drug baron Haji Lalu. Their clashes plunged Lyari into years of gang warfare, turning crowded neighbourhoods into conflict zones and leaving residents trapped between warring factions.

Some of the most notorious incidents linked to Rehman inspired sequences in ‘Dhurandhar’, including a killing carried out in broad daylight – an attack later adapted into one of Akshaye Khanna’s most talked-about scenes.

Even imprisonment could not curb Rehman’s influence. After being arrested in 2005 by senior official Zulfiqar Mirza, he escaped custody and returned to Lyari with renewed force, expanding his reach across Karachi’s underworld.

Killed in 2009 encounter

Rehman Dakait’s criminal career ended in August 2009 when Karachi Police gunned him down during an operation targeting Lyari gangs. He was 34. His cousin Uzair Baloch assumed leadership following his death, continuing the network Rehman built.

Controversy persisted long after the encounter. While police maintained that he was killed in a gunfight, rival accounts suggested that the encounter may have been orchestrated to halt his growing influence.

How ‘Dhurandhar’ revived interest in Rehman Dakait

‘Dhurandhar’, featuring Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and R Madhavan alongside Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, has generated strong chatter despite mixed reviews, earning ₹152 crore worldwide in its opening weekend. The film’s depiction of Rehman – particularly Khanna’s performance – has triggered renewed discussions about the gangster's real past.

A standout sequence featuring the Bahraini track FA9LA has gone viral, with fans comparing its impact to ‘Jamal Kudu’ from ‘Animal’. The number, written and performed by Flipperachi, is pronounced faṣla in Bahraini Arabic and denotes a “fun time” or “party”. The track underscores Rehman’s unsettling charisma in the film, with Khanna’s wicked smile during the scene fuelling the online frenzy.

FA9LA’s popularity has led to broader conversations about the growing trend of Indian filmmakers incorporating global music styles to enhance villain arcs and dramatic moments. The song’s breakout success has echoed how ‘Jamal Kudu’ elevated Bobby Deol’s character overnight.

‘Dhurandhar’ fictionalises elements of Rehman Dakait’s life, but the core of Khanna’s character remains tied to one of Pakistan’s most feared gangsters – a man shaped by early violence, hardened by gang wars and remembered for acts that continue to shock even today.

About ‘Dhurandhar’

‘Dhurandhar’, featuring Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan and Rakesh Bedi, unfolds as a gritty underworld drama charting a web of gangsters, informants and covert operatives whose paths collide through espionage, secret missions and shifting loyalties. Amid the growing attention surrounding the film, the producers have confirmed that a sequel is on the way. Industry chatter had suggested that the story was originally conceived as two separate instalments. The first chapter premiered on 5 December, while the second part is scheduled to hit cinemas on 19 March 2026.