Who Was Rehman Dakait? The ‘Real Dhurandhar’ Pak Gangster Had Slit Mother’s Throat, Played Football With Severed Heads

Last Updated:December 10, 2025, 09:05 IST
Rehman Dakait was a Pakistani gangster from Lyari, Karachi, who ruled in the 2000s and became infamous for murder, extortion, drug trafficking.
Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar may headline Ranveer Singh as its lead, but it is Akshaye Khanna’s chilling portrayal of Rehman Baloch, known as Rehman Dakait, that has become the film’s most talked-about element. The movie, a semi-fictional spy thriller set in Pakistan’s gang-ridden underbelly, draws heavily from real events.
Akshaye Khanna’s entry in Dhurandhar is powered by the viral Bahraini track FA9LA, performed by rapper Hussam Aseem (Flipperachi), which many fans now compare to Animal movie’s “Jamal Kudu" phenomenon. The Khaleeji-style rap song plays during Rehman Dakait’s first appearance, and Akshaye delivers a minimal dance style that has become one of the film’s most iconic moments.
A video now circulating on X pairs his FA9LA entry with an alleged rare clip of the real Rehman Dakait dancing, with users saying the actor has “completely overshadowed the original."
Another wrote, “Meetha rehman dakait tha." (“The original Rehman Dakait looked sweet.")
“Ye Bollywood vaale fakiro ko bhi ameer dikha dete hain," another wrote. (“Bollywood can even make a pauper look rich.")
Who Was Rehman Dakait?
It was inside this world, in the home of a feared gangster, Mohammed Dadal, that a child was born in 1979 (some accounts say 1975). He was named Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch, later feared as Rehman Dakait.
How A Teen Rehman Dakait Killed His Mother
According to local accounts, Rahman Dakait began killing at the age of 13. One of the most chilling stories attached to him occurred when he discovered that his mother, Khadija Biwi, was allegedly having an affair with Iqbal, the gangster who had murdered Rehman’s father.
Enraged, Rehman reportedly shot his mother three times, slit her throat, and buried her secretly. He was only 15.
The Express Tribune reported that at 19, Rehman strangled his mother and then hanged her from a fan. Dhurandhar incorporates this incident, though with creative adjustments.
It is unclear which version is accurate.
Rise Of Rehman Dakait As Gang Lord
After his father’s death, control of the gang passed to Rehman, and his influence spread rapidly across Karachi. In the late 1990s, he joined Haji Lalu’s gang, a key criminal syndicate operating in Lyari. When Lalu was arrested in 2001, Rehman inherited the entire operation.
Between 2001 and 2009, Rehman Dakait transformed into one of Pakistan’s most feared criminals. He reportedly ruled Lyari with Uzair Baloch, his cousin and second-in-command and Baba Ladla, his notorious associate.
On Rehman’s orders, Ladla and Uzair would play football with the severed heads of enemies, as per a report in The Daily Guardian.
Rehman was reportedly linked to kidnappings, extortion rackets, murders, drug trafficking and shootouts with rival gangs and police in and around Karachi.
How Rehman Dakait Died
Rehman’s reign came to an end during a targeted government crackdown on Lyari in August 2009. In a shootout with Karachi police, he was killed at the age of 34. His cousin Uzair Baloch took over the gang.
Rehman Dakait In Dhurandhar
In Dhurandhar, Akshaye Khanna plays a fictionalised version of this feared gangster. He portrays Rehman, who rules Lyari alongside his cousin Uzair Baloch (played by Danish Pandor). The film follows Ranveer Singh’s character, Hamza, a spy who infiltrates Rehman’s organisation to provide intelligence to India and ultimately take him down.
About Dhurandhar
Dhurandhar has an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and R Madhavan. Strong audience word-of-mouth helped the film earn over Rs 100 crore worldwide in its opening weekend.
News viral Who Was Rehman Dakait? The ‘Real Dhurandhar’ Pak Gangster Had Slit Mother’s Throat, Played Football With Severed Heads