The release of the film “Dhurandhar 2” has reignited debate over the existence of the underworld don. Where is Dawood Ibrahim Kasak, mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai bombings and India’s biggest enemy? Is he alive or has he died? This question has once again come to the forefront of discussion.
The recent Hindi film “Dhurandhar 2” has sparked renewed discussion that the clues to India’s greatest criminal, who has been hiding for decades, have yet to be found, but recent events have pushed curiosity to the extreme.
It is no secret that Dawood Ibrahim fled India. Known as “Bade Sahab,” Dawood Ibrahim left India in a very calculated manner. In the 1980s, several reports indicated that he was living openly in Dubai. There he enjoyed a luxurious life, Bollywood celebrities attended his parties, and he even enjoyed India‑Pakistan cricket matches in Sharjah. At that time, it was always alleged that the Dubai administration deliberately ignored his presence.
After the horrific bomb blasts in Mumbai in 1993, which claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people, Dawood Ibrahim moved his base from Dubai to Karachi, Pakistan. Indian investigative agencies have repeatedly claimed that Pakistan has always provided safe haven to terrorists. Since then, it has been assumed that Dawood Ibrahim remains in Karachi. Although Islamabad has always denied that Dawood Ibrahim is in its country, international records tell a different story.
In August 2020, under pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Pakistan kept his name on the United Nations Security Council list.
However, more than three decades have passed, yet the possibility that Dawood Ibrahim is still alive is still considered. The subject has resurfaced in discussion because of “Dhurandhar 2,” and the question of when the dark chapter of Mumbai’s underworld and the long‑awaited justice will end has again risen in the minds of the public.
The Hindi film “Dhurandhar 2” portrays the infamous underworld don Dawood Ibrahim as the character “Bade Sahab,” played by actor Danish Ikbal.
The main issues and discussions related to Dawood Ibrahim in the film are as follows:
1) Portrayal and appearance The character “Bade Sahab”: In the first part of the film, the “Bade Sahab” mentioned is none other than Dawood Ibrahim himself, as clarified in this film.
2) Physical infirmity The film shows Dawood lying on a bed in Karachi, ill and physically helpless. Despite this, it is shown that Dawood Ibrahim is still plotting criminal conspiracies against India from Karachi.
3) Relationship with Rahman Dakait The film highlights the conflict and relationships between Dawood Ibrahim and Rahman Dakait.
4) Director Ram Gopal Verma’s reaction Renowned director Ram Gopal Verma praised “Dhurandhar 2” but disagreed with the portrayal of Dawood. According to him, Dawood Ibrahim had retired from the active crime world almost 20 years ago, so it is not appropriate to depict him as active in the film.
5) The unrest of the D‑Company (real impact) According to media reports, the D‑Company became uneasy because the film shows Dawood as a sick, weak, and old image. The discussion is heated about whether their fear has lessened due to the film’s realistic and confined depiction. In “Dhurandhar 2,” the market for discussions in the underworld has heated up regarding Dawood’s character or other characters, and the question has risen again: Is Dawood Ibrahim Kasak alive?
