The widow of the late Karachi police officer Chaudhary Aslam has raised serious objections to the portrayal of her husband in the upcoming Indian action thriller Dhurandhar. According to recent reports, she warned that she would seek legal redress if the film “misrepresents or disparages” his image.
Chaudhary Aslam Khan’s widow warns ‘Dhurandar’ filmmaker
In ‘Dhurandhar’, veteran actor Sanjay Dutt has been cast as Chaudhary Aslam – described in promotional materials as a tough cop from Lyari who fought against gangsters and terrorists.
According to a statement shared with PTI, Aslam’s widow, Naureen Aslam, condemned a particular line from the trailer that referred to her late husband as the “child of the devil and a genie”. She said: “We are Muslims and such words are disrespectful not only to Aslam but also to his mother who was a simple, honest woman.”
She added: “If I see my husband being wrongly portrayed in a film or any propaganda against him, I will definitely take all the legal action I can.”
Naureen also expressed wider concerns that filmmakers seem to be targeting Pakistani characters to denigrate the country. “It’s strange that Indian filmmakers can’t find any topics other than to denigrate Pakistan,” she said.
Aslam’s family emphasizes that his legacy was one of courage, integrity and unwavering service. “My husband was a brave and courageous policeman and his name was feared by criminals and terrorists,” Naureen said, referring to Aslam’s work against crime syndicates.
She also questioned some of the characterizations, suggesting that even major criminals were inflated to “terrorist” status when in fact they were accused of extortion, kidnapping or criminality.
About ‘Dhurandar’ and his growing controversy
Directed by Aditya Dhar, ‘Dhurandhar’ is among the most talked about film projects of the year. The trailer’s bold portrayal of gang wars and crime, combined with a stellar cast including Sanjay Dutt, Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Akshay Khanna and R Madhavan, garnered widespread attention as well as criticism.
Critics and commentators on social media expressed concern over the perceived celebration of violence. Dhruv Rathee had previously commented on the trailer’s violent content, describing it as the “equivalent of watching an ISIS beheading and calling it ‘entertainment’.”
Proponents of the film claim that it is a work of fiction – and the makers of ‘Dhurandhar’ have claimed that it is not based on any real life story.
The controversy erupted after the trailer of the film dropped, a day after the family of another soldier, the late Major Mohit Sharma, filed a petition to stop the release of the film – alleging misuse of his true story.
But the objections raised by Aslam’s family, as well as Major Mohit Sharma’s, underscore a broader debate about responsibility and sensitivity when cinema draws inspiration — or is perceived to be inspired — from real-life characters.
Who Was Chaudhary Aslam Khan – The Real Life of ‘Lyari Cop’
Born Muhammad Aslam Khan in 1963 in Mansehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chaudhary Aslam joined the Sindh Police in 1984 as an Assistant Sub-Inspector. In three decades of service, he rose to the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and headed the Crime Investigation Department (CID). He was known for his signature white shalwar-kameez and hard-hitting style, earning him the title of “Iron Man” of the Karachi Police.
Read also Dhruv Rathee compares Dhurandhar trailer to ISIS videos
As part of the infamous Lyari Task Force (LTF) and later as head of CID counter-terrorism operations, Aslam led major operations against gangsters, sectarian militants, target killers and terrorists from outfits like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Baloch insurgent groups.
His assassination took place on January 9, 2014, when a bomb exploded on Karachi’s Lyari Expressway. His death shook the law enforcement community in Karachi and led to public mourning; on the third anniversary of his death, the street in front of his former CID office was renamed “Chaudhary Aslam Shaheed Road” in his honour.
