Islamabad: New Zealand-born YouTuber Karl Rock has ignited a firestorm of social media debate after filming himself discovering pirated copies of the Indian blockbuster "Dhurandhar" openly for sale in the heart of Karachi, Pakistan.

The footage, captured at the city’s notorious Rainbow Centre, a long-standing hub for black-market entertainment, shows the Indian film being sold for as little as PKR 50 (approximately ₹16) despite an official government ban on Indian cinema.

The "Rainbow Centre" Discovery

In the video, Rock, who is based in India and married to an Indian citizen, expresses genuine surprise at the accessibility of the recently released film.

  • The Interaction: Rock approaches a vendor whose desktop monitor displays the film's poster. When asked if the movie is new, the shopkeeper confirms, "This is an Indian film, Dhurandhar. It has been released recently."
  • The Cost of Piracy: The vendor quotes a price of PKR 50 for a digital copy on a pendrive or USB stick. For those seeking physical media, a DVD version is reportedly available for roughly PKR 300 (₹95).
  • Ranveer's Roots: While inspecting the poster, Rock pointed out to the vendor and his audience that lead actor Ranveer Singh has Sindhi heritage, with grandparents who migrated from Karachi to India during the 1947 Partition.

The Paradox of Popularity

The discovery highlights a stark contradiction in Pakistan’s entertainment landscape. While the Pakistani government has officially banned the theatrical release of Indian films due to geopolitical tensions, "Dhurandhar" has become an unprecedented underground phenomenon.

A Controversial Subject Matter

The popularity of "Dhurandhar" in Pakistan is particularly notable given its plot. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the espionage thriller is inspired by the real-life gang wars of Karachi’s Lyari Town and depicts covert Indian intelligence operations involving events like the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

While some Pakistani viewers have criticised the film for "distorted" portrayals of the Lyari neighbourhood, others have lauded its production value, leading it to surpass previous piracy records held by films like Raees and 2.0.

What’s Next for the Franchise?

The "engine" behind this cross-border hit shows no signs of slowing down. A sequel, "Dhurandhar: The Revenge," is already scheduled for an Indian theatrical release on March 19, 2026. Given the current climate, analysts expect the sequel to follow a similar path: a total theatrical blackout in Pakistan followed by an immediate surge in the digital black market.