The Sindh government has announced the upcoming release of a new film, Mera Lyari, positioning it as a response to the Indian movie Dhurandhar, which has faced widespread criticism for its alleged negative depiction of Pakistan and Karachi’s Lyari area.

Since its release on December 5, Dhurandhar has sparked backlash for portraying Lyari as a conflict-ridden zone. Sindh Senior Minister and Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon condemned the film, calling it part of a wider campaign aimed at maligning Pakistan and, in particular, misrepresenting Lyari.

“Lyari is not about violence; it represents culture, peace, talent, and resilience. Next month, Mera Lyari will be released to show the true face of Lyari - one of peace, progress, and pride,” Memon stated in a post on social media platform X.

Although the Bollywood film is said to be loosely inspired by past gang wars in Lyari, it has divided opinion in India itself, with some viewers supporting the narrative while many others have criticised its portrayal.

In Pakistan, audiences largely dismissed the film as propaganda, though some also expressed disappointment that local filmmakers have not consistently told authentic stories reflecting Pakistan’s own cultural and historical realities.

Highlighting the contrast, a journalist shared a video titled “The Karachi you see in Dhurandhar vs the Karachi I saw last week,” juxtaposing scenes of chaos from the film with images of the city’s vibrant food culture, music, and everyday life.

Memon reiterated that Lyari is a symbol of cultural diversity and social harmony, and said the upcoming Sindhi-language film aims to present an accurate picture of the area to both domestic and international audiences.

Meanwhile, a day earlier, a constitutional petition was filed in a Karachi court against Dhurandhar over the alleged unauthorised use of images of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) flag, and footage from party rallies in the film’s trailer.

The petition was submitted by PPP activist Muhammad Amir in the District and Sessions Court (South), Karachi, seeking the registration of an FIR against those involved in the production and promotion of the film.

The individuals named include director Aditya Dhar; producers Lokesh Dhar and Jyoti Kishore Deshpande; actors Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Beni; along with cinematographer Vikash Nolcha, editor Shiv Kumar V Panicker, and other unidentified crew members.