Akshaye Khanna as Rehman Dakait: Lyari don’s real life was more ruthless than Dhurandhar’s story, death even more painful & more related news here

Dhurandhar’s film does not receive major applause for any heroic coup or ready-to-whistle dialogue, but when Akshaye Khanna quietly enters as Rehman Dakait. The film presents him as a terrifying antagonist, but the real man behind the character lived a life far more violent and troubling than fiction can fully capture. That uncomfortable applause reflects how crime stories grip audiences, even when they reflect brutal realities.

Rehman Dakait: Crime as birthright in Lyari

Rehman Dakait was born in 1976 in Lyari, one of Karachi’s oldest neighborhoods and long associated with poverty, gang rivalries and organized crime.

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A BBC report notes that he was the son of dad Mohammad and his second wife, Khadija. His family was already deeply involved in the criminal world. Papa Mohammad and his brothers ran drug operations and became embroiled in violent turf wars with gangs led by Iqbal, also known as Baboo Dakait, and Haji Lalu.

For Rehman, violence was not learned later. It surrounded him since childhood.

A violent and dead-end childhood

Rehman’s criminal journey began early. At 13, he stabbed a man who stopped him from bursting crackers in Lyari. Two years later, he crossed another line and killed two rival drug dealers after an argument.

In 1995, his story took a surprising turn. After escaping police custody, Rehman shot and killed his own mother, Khadija, inside their home. He told police he killed her because she “became a police informant.”

Prison, escape and the rise of a mafia lord

That same year, Rehman was arrested for weapons and drug possession. He spent almost two and a half years in prison before dramatically escaping while being taken from Karachi jail to court.

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He fled to Balochistan and began rebuilding his network. By the early 2000s, Rehman Dakait had become one of the most powerful gang leaders in Lyari. By 2006, he had accumulated wealth, property and political influence. He married three times and had 13 children. Reports claimed that he owned properties in Karachi, Balochistan and Iran.

It no longer operated silently. Power, for him, required visibility.

The Lyari gang wars and a decade of fear

Rehman’s rise pushed Lyari into extreme violence. His initial alliance with Haji Lalu in the drug and gambling business collapsed, triggering brutal gang wars. Estimates suggest that more than 3,500 people died during this phase.

By the early 2000s, Rehman had eliminated most of his rivals and declared himself the undisputed ruler of Lyari.

In 2021, The Express Tribune reported: “Rehman was involved in extortion, kidnapping, drug smuggling, sale of illegal weapons and more. For almost a decade, the gang war left life paralyzed in Lyari as Rehman and his gang fought with his rival Arshad Pappu and his acolytes.”

Rehman then reinvented himself as Sardar Abdul Rahman Baloch and formed the Aman People’s Committee, entering directly into politics in an area long linked to both the MQM and the People’s Party.

Enter the Lyari Task Force

In 2006, authorities formed the Lyari Task Force under the command of Chaudhry Aslam to break gang control in the area. In Dhurandhar, Sanjay Dutt plays a version of this role as a hard-line, no-nonsense cop.

That year, the Task Force reportedly arrested Rehman Dakait, although the arrest never appeared in official records. Shortly after, Chaudhry Aslam allegedly received a phone call from Asif Ali Zardari, who later became president of Pakistan.

According to the BBC report, Zardari told him: “Don’t kill him. Don’t do anything wrong. Present the cases in court. Don’t make a meeting.”

Rehman was allegedly kept in secret custody in police officers’ houses, from where he escaped once again, strengthening his image as someone beyond the reach of the law.

Rehman Dakait dies in encounter

Rehman’s career ended in 2009. Using phone data, Task Force Lyari tracked him down near Quetta. Reports said he was carrying a fake ID.

When asked to speak to a senior officer, Rehman approached a vehicle and found Chaudhry Aslam inside. He was arrested immediately.

Accounts claim that Rehman offered money to resolve the situation, but Aslam refused. Rehman Dakait and three of his associates were later killed in a police encounter. Police said he was wanted in more than 80 cases, including murder and kidnapping.

Funeral, court battles and loose ends

While Dhurandhar closes with Rehman’s death, Dhurandhar 2, scheduled for release next March, will reportedly focus on what followed.

In fact, Rehman Dakait received what is believed to be the largest funeral Lyari has ever seen. His widow approached the Sindh High Court, alleging that the encounter was fake. The court requested a police report, but the case never reached a clear conclusion.

Chaudhry Aslam was later killed in a Taliban suicide attack in 2014, adding another violent chapter to the story.

Dhurandhar’s record-breaking run

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar transforms the life of Rehman Dakait into a high-voltage spy thriller, propelled by Akshaye Khanna’s restrained and chilling performance.

The film made history in its second weekend, earning over Rs 100 crore in two days. It grossed Rs 53 million on December 13 and around Rs 59 million on Sunday, taking the weekend total to about Rs 112 million, according to Sacnilk.

With total earnings now at Rs 351 crore, the film continues its good streak. Released on December 5, it stars Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi. The makers have confirmed that Dhurandhar 2 will release on March 19, 2026.