Rs 600 Cr Blockbuster: How Pakistan Was Recreated?

Bollywood is producing one of its biggest blockbusters in the form of Dhurandhar. This Ranveer Singh film is turning out to be a mega blockbuster at the ticket counters with ₹600 crore in revenue generation.

The makers of Dhurandhar have impressed audiences by recreating Pakistan locations with remarkable authenticity, even though the film was not shot there. Since filming in Pakistan was not feasible, the team decided to build a massive replica set in Bangkok, Thailand.

A sprawling area of around six acres was transformed into a realistic version of Karachi’s Lyari region, known for its dense lanes and old style architecture.

The decision to choose Thailand was driven by practical reasons. Finding such a large open space in Mumbai was difficult, and the monsoon season would have delayed construction.

Thailand offered better weather conditions, ample space, and smoother logistics for a project of this scale. A large art department team worked relentlessly to bring the vision to life within a tight schedule.

Extensive research played a key role in achieving realism. The production designers studied photographs, videos, documentaries, and street visuals of Lyari to capture the smallest details. Buildings were designed with weathered walls, faded paint, old posters, signboards, narrow balconies, and cluttered streets to match the real environment. Special care was taken to ensure that no Thai elements were visible on screen.

With detailed planning, strong research, and skilled craftsmanship, the Dhurandhar team successfully recreated Pakistan settings that look convincing and immersive, adding significant value to the film’s visual storytelling.