Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar franchise continues to dominate the global box office, bringing in ₹3000 crore combined. The franchise’s success even reached Pakistan, where Dhurandhar faced backlash. Critics in Pakistan were unhappy with the depiction of Lyari city in the film. As a result, Pakistani filmmakers announced a new movie called Mera Lyari to counter Dhurandhar‘s portrayal of the city. However, the film’s release did not go as planned.
Released on May 8, Mera Lyari was a massive failure. Despite the film being marketed as a response to Dhurandhar, it sold only 22 tickets on its opening day. Following this, the film was quickly pulled from cinemas.
Mera Lyari’s Content and Response
Mera Lyari is a sports drama directed by Abu Aliha. It tells the story of two footballers and stars popular actors like Ayesha Omar, Dananeer Mobin, Samia Mumtaz, and Trinette Lucas. However, Mera Lyari failed to engage the audience. Fans criticized the film for lacking action, thrill, and depth. Social media buzz reflected disappointment, as people expressed their disinterest in watching the film.
Despite this failure, Sindh province minister Sharjeel Memon had earlier praised Mera Lyari as a “strong response to India’s negative propaganda.” However, the actual outcome contradicted these expectations.
The Backlash Against Lyari’s Depiction
Following Dhurandhar‘s release, many Indians were introduced to Lyari, seeing it depicted with weapons, drugs, and violence. This portrayal did not sit well with the Pakistani audience, further intensifying their dissatisfaction. As a result, the movie Mera Lyari was created to show a different side of the city, yet it failed to attract viewers.
In conclusion, Dhurandhar’s success has only highlighted Mera Lyari‘s shortcomings. Despite being a response to a Bollywood hit, the Pakistani film could not meet expectations
