A fresh controversy has erupted around the Bollywood film Dhurandhar after a video of former Pakistani minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Nabil Gabol went viral on social media. In the clip, Gabol openly admits that he lacks the money needed to approach international bodies to seek a ban on the film, despite being unhappy with his portrayal.

Responding to a Pakistani journalist, Gabol said a key character in Dhurandhar is inspired by him but claimed the depiction was inaccurate. “A very important character of mine has been shown in it. They showed my role as ‘dabang’, but it was not shown correctly. They have portrayed Lyari as a terrorist hub. Thanks to the GCC countries for banning it,” he remarked.

When asked whether he would move the international community against the film, Gabol laughed and made a blunt admission. “Going to the international community requires a lot of money, and I don’t have that kind of money,” he said, triggering sharp reactions online.

In Dhurandhar, Gabol’s character appears under the fictional name Jamil Jamali and is played by actor Rakesh Bedi. The storyline further suggests that the character’s son-in-law is an Indian intelligence asset, adding to the political sensitivity surrounding the film.

Released on December 5, Dhurandhar is inspired by real-world geopolitical tensions and covert intelligence operations. The film references events such as Operation Lyari, the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and action against organised crime networks in Karachi.

Due to its controversial themes, Dhurandhar has been officially banned in Pakistan and several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait. Despite the ban, the film continues to circulate widely on pirated platforms in Pakistan, keeping the debate alive across borders.