Ever since the first glimpse of Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’ hit the screens, it has been stealing the spotlight. Fans are enraptured by the trailer and eagerly await the film’s release. The story unfolds in Pakistan's famous Lyari, Karachi. Akshay Khanna portrays Rehman Dakait, while Sanjay Dutt steps into the shoes of Chaudhry Aslam. These characters draw inspiration from real-life personalities.
Chaudhry Aslam, a prominent officer of Karachi police, was a bold face against crime and terrorism, renowned as much for his controversies as his courage. He spearheaded numerous operations against gangster networks, target killers, and extremist groups. His audacious style and fearless pursuit against criminals, despite perpetual threats, kept him in the limelight until his tragic death in a devastating blast in 2014 raised questions on Karachi’s security framework.
The film ‘Dhurandhar’ sees Sanjay Dutt embodying the character inspired by Chaudhry Aslam’s life. His commanding presence and intense persona make him the perfect fit for the role. While the story is spiced with drama, its foundation lies in Aslam’s real struggle against Karachi’s crime.
Source: aajtak
A Pakistani Journalist's Tale
Beyond the shimmer of cinema, the truth is more tangled. Pakistani journalist Zille Haider shares insights from experiences with Chaudhry Aslam.
Source: aajtak
The Baldia Town CTD Encounter
Zille recalls a time Chaudhry Aslam called him, asking about his whereabouts to cover an operation against TTP terrorists hiding in Baldia Town.
Witnessing a Live Encounter
Upon arriving with a camera crew, bullets flew from all sides. Before they knew it, everyone was sheltered in an armored police van by Aslam, wearing a white kurta pajama. A fierce exchange of fire ensued, with grenades thrown and loud blasts echoing.
Source: aajtak
Post-encounter, it was revealed that two TTP terrorists had detonated themselves, one was shot by CTD, and two were captured injured. The operation left four police officers critically injured. Zille noted that the encounter unveiled the unedited, fearsome reality of Chaudhry Aslam’s world, which cinema merely scratches the surface of.
Operation Lyari
Lyari, Karachi's heartbeat, has long been a hub for mafias, marred by crime syndicates, target killers, and politically fueled gangs. The 'Lyari Operation,' led by Chaudhry Aslam, was sanctioned to combat rising crime.
Haider recounts police struggled to even enter Lyari, sustaining significant losses. After about 15 days of conflict, most gangsters escaped or went underground. The intricate reality of Lyari is a story of poverty rampant among the population, politically dominated by the Pakistan People’s Party but lacking basic needs. Despite hardships, locals live on daily wages, with women working as domestic helpers.
Amidst this, Abdul Rehman, alias 'Rehman Dakait,' emerged, often called 'Khan Bhai' or 'Lyari’s Robinhood' for helping locals albeit having a notorious criminal record, frequent police showdowns, and, ultimately, his encounter, central to Lyari's saga. Akshay Khanna takes on Rehman Dakait’s role, whose full name was Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch, in ‘Dhurandhar’.
Later, Karachi don Uzair Baloch seized the network with PPP’s backing, hostile with Arshad Pappu about connections, resulting in Pappu’s murder, revealing Lyari’s brutal political layers.
Fact vs. Fiction in 'Dhurandhar'
While ‘Dhurandhar’ dramatizes the backdrop, understanding the truth steeped in blood and struggle outplays any script. Zille Haider’s shared photos, videos, and experiences reveal Lyari’s true spirit beyond gangster tales encompassing ordinary people enduring under burdens of poverty, crime, and political turmoil.
Understanding reality, devoid of glorification, is crucial to perceive society through witnesses’ eyes who experienced the conflict firsthand.
