Dhurandhar (2025)

<p>On 30 December 1999, Minister of External Affairs Devavrat Kapoor and Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) Ajay Sanyal negotiate with terrorist Zahoor Mistry to release three terrorists (including Mistry’s brother) and pay a US$10 million ransom in exchange for the lives of airline passengers held captive in Kandahar. Though Chief of R&AW K. S. Bhullar rejects Sanyal’s proposal to infiltrate terrorist networks in Pakistan, Kapoor later authorises Sanyal’s covert “Operation Dhurandhar” following the 2001 Indian Parliament attack.</p> <p>Sanyal sends agent Hamza Ali Mazari into Pakistan via the Torkham border crossing in Afghanistan. In Lyari, Karachi, Hamza befriends Mohammed Aalam, a juice-shop owner, moves in with him, and works as a waiter while studying local gang politics. As a Baloch, Hamza can only align with the gang led by gangster Rehman Dakait and his cousin and deputy Uzair Baloch.</p> <p>Hamza learns that a rival Pathan gang, led by Rehman’s estranged father Babu Dakait, plans to kill Rehman’s eldest son Naieem Baloch. Babu’s men attack a wedding attended by Naieem and his younger brother Faizal; Hamza saves Faizal, but Naieem is killed. At the hospital, Rehman and Uzair note Hamza’s firearm skills and recruit him. Jameel Jamali of the Pakistan Awami Party (PAP) urges Uzair not to retaliate before the Lyari election, but Hamza encourages revenge. Rehman’s gang massacres Babu’s men, and Rehman personally kills Babu with a weighing stone, proclaiming Baloch dominance over Lyari.</p> <p>At a PAP rally, Hamza meets Jameel’s daughter Yalina and begins a relationship with her. Rehman is introduced to Major Iqbal of the ISI by the Khanani brothers, businessmen pushing him into politics; Iqbal requests weapons and ammunition. Hamza learns about Iqbal’s counterfeit-currency operation and witnesses him brutally torture an Indian spy. Hamza relays this to Aalam, who informs Sanyal; the IB suspects Pakistan possesses Indian currency plates. While transporting weapons, Hamza uncovers plans for a major terror attack on India and alerts the IB.</p> <p>Rehman’s alliance with the Khananis marginalises Jameel politically. Backed by Major Iqbal, Rehman enters politics and declares an alliance between his People’s Aman Committee and the PAP of Aquib Ali Zarwari. Jameel responds by recruiting suspended Superintendent of Police Chaudhary Aslam to eliminate Rehman, leading to the formation of the Lyari Task Force. Aslam arrests Rehman during a weapons run. Hamza counters by sending Jameel a video—recorded by Yalina—exposing Jameel’s collusion with Aslam and gangster Arshad Pappu. When Aslam refuses to release Rehman, Hamza forces compliance by livestreaming himself and Uzair torturing captured task-force officers.</p> <p>Despite Hamza’s intelligence, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack occurs. Traumatized, Hamza and Aalam resolve to dismantle Pakistan’s terror infrastructure. Hamza secretly proposes to Jameel that, by marrying Yalina, he will rule Lyari while granting Jameel lasting influence. He then conspires with Jameel and Aslam to eliminate Rehman. At Hamza and Yalina’s wedding, Major Iqbal requests another weapons shipment. Exploiting Rehman’s drunkenness, Hamza schedules the delivery to coincide with another engagement, creating an ambush opportunity. The day of delivery, Hamza sends Uzair to the shipment site while driving Rehman to Aslam’s trap. Rehman realises the betrayal mid-journey; a violent struggle follows, ending in a crash. Hamza escapes, kills two of Rehman’s henchmen, and helps Aslam subdue Rehman, who later dies from his injuries in the hospital.</p> <p>Hamza’s real identity is revealed to be Jaskirat Singh Rangi, an Indian death-row inmate turned covert operative for Ajay Sanyal. With Rehman eliminated, he consolidates power in Lyari and prepares to target “Bade Sahab,” the architect of multiple Pakistani terror attacks.</p>