Since the release of Dhurandhar, one name has dominated public discussion, Rehman Daku. Akshaye Khanna’s portrayal of the feared Lyari gangster has left a lasting impression on audiences, many of whom believe he overshadowed other performers with his intense screen presence. With minimal dialogue, piercing eyes and controlled expressions, Khanna recreated an aura of fear that hinted at how ruthless Rehman Daku was in real life.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar presents Rehman Daku as a violent and merciless figure who ultimately meets a brutal end on screen. However, those familiar with his real-life story argue that even this depiction barely scratches the surface of his cruelty. Rehman Daku, also known as Rehman Baloch, was infamous in Lyari for his violent quest to dominate the underworld and his long-running rivalry with India’s most wanted fugitive, Dawood Ibrahim.
According to film critic and screenwriter Siddharth Aroda, also known as “Sehar”, Rehman’s terror once reached a point where Dawood himself was forced to plead for mercy.
Aroda revisited Rehman’s history after encountering criticism online that claimed Dhurandhar underplayed the gangster’s real-life menace. His research revealed a chilling episode from 2009 involving land extortion in Karachi.
At the time, a powerful don allegedly threatened a prominent businessman to sell land worth nearly ₹400 crore for just ₹12 crore. When the businessman refused, the threats escalated. The businessman later turned out to be a close relative of Rehman Daku. On learning this, Rehman personally called the don and warned him to back off. Instead of retreating, the don allegedly insulted and threatened Rehman, dismissing him as a small-time Lyari gangster.
That insult proved fatal. Enraged, Rehman reportedly ordered his men into action the same night. In a daring move, Dawood Ibrahim’s younger brother, Noor, was abducted from a busy area and taken to a farmhouse. Reports claim Noor was tortured brutally, and his screams were allegedly played over the phone to Dawood. Faced with the horror, Dawood begged Rehman to spare his brother and promised to withdraw from the land deal. Rehman, however, refused, stating that negotiations should have come earlier. Noor was later killed, and his body was found days later in Clifton.
This incident cemented Rehman Daku’s reputation as one of the most feared gangsters of his time. His rivalry with Dawood was rooted in control over illegal activities in Lyari, where Rehman sought absolute dominance. His brutality extended even to his own family, with reports alleging he killed his mother, reflecting the depths of his violence.
Rehman Daku’s reign of terror ended in 2009 when he was killed in a police encounter. Authorities recovered a large cache of weapons and hand grenades from him, underlining the scale of his criminal operations. While Dhurandhar captures a fictionalised version of his life, the real story of Rehman Daku remains far darker and more disturbing than what cinema can fully portray.
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