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Bollywood’s portrayal of Pakistan, with all its surma, its many utterances of “adaab”, and of course, its propaganda storytelling, usually misses the mark on accuracy. Dhurandhar, India’s latest spy flick based in Karachi’s Lyari, was no exception.

However, Pakistan is now responding to India with its own film, Mera Layari, to set the record straight, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced on Saturday.

Calling Dhurandhar “yet another example of negative propaganda by the Indian film industry against Pakistan,” Memon said the Pakistani film would show “the true face of Lyari: peace, prosperity, and pride”.

While the minister didn’t share any details about the film’s plot, he said it would be released next month. He also shared posters, giving us a look at the credits for the movie.

Ayesha Omar, Dananeer Mobeen, Samiya Mumtaz, Nayyar Ejaz, Trinette Lucas, Paras Masroor, Adnan Shah Tipu and Shoaib Khan have been listed as part of the film’s cast. It is written and directed by Abu Aleeha of Taxali Gate, and executive produced by Omar under her banner Hawksbay Productions.

The controversy surrounding Dhurandhar saw two major escalations last week. Indian media outlets reported the film wasn’t cleared for release in several Gulf states owing to its anti-Pakistan themes. This follows similar steps taken against other propaganda pieces, such as the 2024 film Fighter, which showed a dramatised version of India’s 2019 airstrikes in Pakistan.

An application to register a case against Dhurandhar’s director, producer and cast members was also filed in a Karachi district court by a supporter of the Pakistan Peoples Party, who claimed the film had used the party’s flag, footage from party rallies and the likeness of its late Chairperson Benazir Bhutto without authorisation. The complainant said the PPP was shown as sympathetic to terrorists in the film’s trailer.