Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar brought back to the fore the violent past of Karachi’s Lyari neighbourhood and the real-life personalities that got caught up in it, Rehman Dakait, played by Akshaye Khanna, which in turn drew out great interest from audiences that in turn wanted to see how the film’s telling of events stacks up against what really happened.
One issue that has seen great interest is the case of Rehman Dakait’s wife. In the film, we see a character named Ulfat as his wife, but what is put forth to the public regarding Rehman Dakait’s private life is much less detailed. It is reported that he had many wives and many children, which means the film’s representation may not be the full picture of his actual home life.
Who Was Rehman Dakait?
In the 1990s and 2000s, Abdul Rehman Baloch, who went by the name Rehman Dakait, became a prominent figure in the gang business in Lyari, Karachi, Pakistan. He was a key figure in that time’s gang conflicts.
His reported crimes also saw him head the drugs trade, run extortion rackets, kidnap for ransom and clash with rival groups. He grew to be a very powerful man in Lyari and was also a member of the People’s Aman Committee, which came into play amid the area’s complex crime and political landscape.
Rehman died in August 2009 in the middle of what was reported to be a police encounter, which was at the time conducted by SP Chaudhry Aslam Khan. What followed was that the death came to be very much a point of controversy, which included claims that the encounter was in fact staged.
Who Was Rehman Dakait’s Wife?
In terms of Rehman Dakait’s personal life and that of his wives, there is little in the way of reliable public information. It is reported that he had three marriages, which produced a large family. But which of these women was his primary wife, if any, is not a matter of clear record.
In Dhurandhar, actress Saumya Tandon plays Ulfat, which is the role of Rehman Dakait’s wife. We see her as a key member of his family and also by the side of their children.
The film’s take is put forth more in a dramatic context than as a full historical account. As is the case with many characters and incidents in Dhurandhar, which are based on real people and events, the story is in large part a dramatic reconstruction.
What became of his wife after his death?
There is a lack of public info on what transpired in the years after Rehman Dakait’s death. In the case of his killing, do we see a report of a particular issue that came up in the legal debate?
Reports said that Rehman Dakait’s wife went to the Sindh High Court with a plea that her husband’s death was a result of a fake encounter. Also, she challenged the police report, which presented the account of that incident and asked for a legal in-depth study of the incident that led to his death.
Reports at the time also noted that SSP Chaudhry Aslam Khan and other police personnel were brought up in a case related to the issue of the encounter. In February 2010, Dawn reported that Aslam and his subordinates were charged in connection with the supposed killing.
These reports, which put forth what is known of Rehman Dakait’s death, also run parallel to each other. He was reported to have died in the crossfire of an encounter, at the same time that questions were raised about whether it was a staged encounter.
What Happened to Chaudhry Aslam?
Chaudhry Aslam became a known figure in Karachi for his aggressive war on organised crime and militant groups. He was at the centre of operations against criminal networks in the city and had a very public dispute with members of Lyari’s gang.
In January 2014, Aslam was killed by a Taliban suicide bombing in Karachi.
His association with Rehman Dakait has also become a key element of the real-life story, which was the inspiration for parts of Dhurandhar.
Rehman Dakait’s Family After His Death
Rehman Dakait’s death did not put an immediate stop to the criminal networks in Lyari. In turn, his cousin Uzair Baloch rose to prominence, which also saw the P.A.C. take over, and we also saw the groups’ influence in the area continue.
Also, in recent years, we have seen which members of Rehman Dakait’s family got involved in similar incidents. In March 2024, it was reported by Dawn that one of his sons died in what is said to be an encounter in Karachi.
These events prove that the violence related to Lyari’s criminal structures still played out in the lives of the families and associates of key gang members after Rehman Dakait’s death.
How true to life is Ulfat as a character in Dhurandhar?
In the scene in which Ulfat appears, Saumya Tandon brings to life the character of Rehman Dakait’s wife. The film uses her character to look into his past and personal life, which we do not see elsewhere in the story; instead, we are presented with his violent gangster persona.
However, in what is presented to the audience, we see the separation between what is true in the film and what is history. It is put forward that Rehman had many wives and children, which is from public records, but in detail, that which supports each is limited. Also, it is in the case of scenes which feature Ulfat and the children that we present to the audience, which should be seen as the film’s interpretation until proved otherwise by historical facts.
Final Thoughts
Rehman Dakait’s life is a great deal more complex than what is presented in your average gangster biography. He rose in Lyari, was a part of organised crime, had political ties, had at times violent rivalries with other organisations, and died in controversy.
In terms of his family life, which is to say, not as much documented. As for Dhurandhar’s presentation of his wife via the character of Ulfat, which is a fiction, what we do know is that Rehman had many wives and many children. The most noteworthy development regarding his wife after his death was her legal battle, which questioned the results of the police version of events that led to his death.
In fact, Dhurandhar has brought back to the public’s attention Rehman Dakait, but it is to be seen as a dramatic take on true events rather than a full-scale biography of the gangster or his family.
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