Not India or Pakistan: The Asian Nation That Became Home to 'Dhurandhar's' Lyari

For the film 'Dhurandhar,' the town of Lyari wasn't filmed in Pakistan, nor was it recreated in India. Instead, a sprawling six-acre set, the vision of production designer Saini S Johray, brought Lyari to life in an unexpected location.

According to a December 16th Instagram post, Johray shared a video by The Fact Boii on YouTube, which detailed how the film's sets came into being and where principal photography occurred.

Rather than building in Mumbai, which was initially considered, the filmmakers opted for Thailand. The large set was constructed in Bangkok with the help of over 500 artists hailing from both India and Thailand. Many of these skilled craftspeople had previously contributed to well-known productions such as 'The Family Man' and 'The Night Manager.' The weather in Mumbai proved too unpredictable to accommodate such an ambitious project, making Thailand a more suitable choice.

To accurately reflect the look and feel of a Pakistani town, the production team undertook extensive research. They examined old Pakistani movies, pored over newspaper clippings and headlines, and explored YouTube archives. This dedication to detail ensured that everything, from the texture of the walls to the design of window grills, was true to Lyari's distinctive character. Given that the majority of the artists involved were Thai, the team took extra precautions to avoid any elements that might betray the set's actual location. The result of their hard work was a remarkably realistic and immersive depiction of Lyari for audiences to experience.

Johray revealed in a July 15th interview with The Hollywood Reporter that shooting in Mumbai was untenable, citing the monsoon season and the sheer size of the set as major obstacles. He stated that they required a six-acre space, which no Mumbai studio could provide, and the July rains made outdoor construction impossible. After considering various countries, they settled on Thailand, finding it ideal for their expansive set.

Johray further explained the challenges of building the set in just 20 days, especially with the inability to bring a large crew from India. The solution involved collaborating with approximately 300-400 Thai artists, supplementing the core team to reach a total of around 500 individuals working around the clock to complete the massive six-acre set.