Ranveer Singh’s family ties to Karachi stir interest during Dhurandhar craze

WEB DESK: Bollywood star Ranveer Singh, known for his powerful performances, apparently has a lesser-known connection to Karachi, Pakistan.

An Indian entertainment platform, Instant Bollywood, has revealed that Ranveer Singh Bhavnani actually has Sindhi heritage that traces back to his father’s family, who were part of the Sindhi Hindu community in Karachi before relocating to India after the 1947 partition.

Like countless other families displaced during that historic upheaval, Ranveer’s family settled in Mumbai, where he would eventually rise to fame.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood)

Now, his ancestral link has gained renewed attention as his latest film, the spy thriller Dhurandhar, is making waves on both sides of the border – for very different reasons. Released earlier this month, the film has drawn attention not just for its storyline but also for its provocative take on India-Pakistan relations, with social media abuzz over a series of humorous trends inspired by the movie.

In India, content creators have started posting videos under the tongue-in-cheek theme “First day as spy in Pakistan.” These clips parody the idea of Indian spies attempting to blend in while inadvertently revealing themselves through cultural or religious cues that are distinctively Hindu.

One popular video features a “spy” moving stealthily, only to pause and pay respect to a poster of the Hindu deity Hanuman, ending with the character being “exposed.” Another shows a character greeting someone with “salam” while touching their feet, a gesture uncommon in Pakistan, resulting in humorous consequences. The trend is set to the song Karavan, which has added to the viral appeal.

In Pakistan, however, the film has gained traction primarily because of its high dosage of propaganda and myriad factual errors including showing ‘Pakistani’ clothing and dances which are nowhere to be seen in Pakistan.

Although the film has sparked debates and controversies in both India and Pakistan, these creative social media responses highlight the lighter, humorous side of cross-border engagement with cinema. Ranveer Singh’s ancestral ties to Karachi add an additional layer of irony and interest, showing how cultural connections can bridge historical divides, even in the context of a high-octane spy thriller.