New Delhi: The global success of Dhurandhar: The Revenge has sparked controversy across borders. Pakistani politician Nabil Gabol criticised the film’s portrayal of a character he believes was inspired by him. The former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) claims that the character Jameel Jamali in the blockbuster spy thriller draws heavily from his life and political career.
Directed by Aditya Dhar and headlined by Ranveer Singh, the action film has been dominating the global box office since its release. Yet its storyline, set partly within Karachi’s Lyari region, has triggered heated reactions in Pakistan.
Nabil Gabol says he plans his own film ‘Lyari Ka Gabbar’
In a recent interview with a content creator, Gabol addressed the controversy and insisted the character portrayed in the film reflects his political identity. The role of Jameel Jamali in the movie is played by veteran actor Rakesh Bedi.
“The truth is that they cannot fight Pakistan or the Pakistani Army, so they created a movie instead. Through this, they have made Lyari internationally famous,” Gabol said. He further claimed that the filmmakers deliberately portrayed him through a comedic lens.
“They used a comedian, Rakesh Bedi, to play my role and portrayed him as Nabil Gabol. Rakesh Bedi later claimed, ‘No, I didn’t just base it on Nabil Gabol; I made it a general depiction of all Pakistani politicians’. However, in 2007, the MNA of Lyari was Nabil Gabol,” he explained.
The politician also responded to the online trolling he says he has received on social media since the film’s release. Addressing critics, he remarked, “I see a lot of trolling on Indian social media asking why Nabil Gabol has gone silent. Well, today is the 26th, and I will give you a powerful response, just as the Pakistani Army responded to you.”
He added a controversial statement referencing military tensions, saying, “Just as six of your planes were shot down, I will also give you a proper answer regarding what Lyari actually is.”
Gabol further revealed that he intends to produce his own film inspired by the controversy. While acknowledging the influence of the Dhurandhar franchise, he made it clear that his project would take a different direction. “I will make Dhurandhar 3 but won’t call it that. I will call it Lyari Ka Gabbar,” he announced.
This is not the first time the politician has expressed frustration with the franchise. After the release of the original Dhurandhar, he criticised the depiction of his alleged character. “Jo mera role dikhaya gaya hai, mera role bahut dabbang tha, or dabbang iss tareeke se tha ki inhone mere role ko sahi tareeke se nahi dikhaya,” he had said earlier.
Dhurandhar: The Revenge continues its impressive theatrical run. The film, which also stars Arjun Rampal, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt and Sara Arjun, has already crossed Rs 1,000 crore worldwide within its first week.