Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller Dhurandhar has reached the No. 1 spot on Netflix in Pakistan and the UAE, even though the film was not released in cinemas there.
Ranveer Singh’s espionage thriller Dhurandhar has achieved a rare digital milestone by topping Netflix’s charts in both Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, even though the film was never released in cinemas in those regions due to distribution and content sensitivities.
Directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, Dhurandhar follows an Indian intelligence agent who goes undercover to infiltrate a dangerous gang, offering a high-octane mix of action, political intrigue and intense performances. After a hugely successful theatrical run in India and other markets, the film made its N
etflix debut on January 30, 2026, widening its reach to global audiences.
Despite its absence from Gulf cinemas, where it faced clearance issues and was
not screened in countries including the UAE and Pakistan, viewers turned to the streaming platform in numbers large enough to push Dhurandhar to the No. 1 spot in regional Netflix rankings, as per a report in Gulf News. South Asian audiences in both markets streamed the film enthusiastically, demonstrating the power of digital platforms to overcome traditional theatrical limitations.
Screenshots of the film trending at No. 1 in Pakistan have also been doing the rounds. The audience from Pakistan and gulf nations have also taken to social media to review the film.
The Netflix success comes amid broader discussion about how streaming is transforming content access outside theatrical windows, especially in regions where local distribution faces regulatory or cultural barriers. Dhurandhar’s chart-topping performance in Pakistan and the UAE despite not being shown in cinemas underscores this shift and points to rising audience demand for Indian films on OTT platforms.
Dhurandhar is a spy thriller which stars Ranveer as Hamza, an Indian spy infiltrating the gangs of Pakistan’s Lyari. It blends real incidents and uses real-life people with a fictional narrative about India’s war against terror.
The film was not released in Pakistan as well as several other Gulf nations because of its content.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the
second part of the film is gearing up for Eid release, on March 19.
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