Akshaye Khanna’s gripping performance as Rehman Dakait in the blockbuster Dhurandhar has captured the attention of audiences nationwide. His chilling portrayal has raised curiosity about the real-life figure behind the character. So, who exactly was Rehman Dakait, the man whose life inspired one of the film’s most intense roles?
The on-screen character is based on Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch, a fearsome gangster who dominated Karachi’s Lyari region for nearly ten years. His criminal empire, built on violence and intimidation, made him one of Pakistan’s most dreaded underworld figures.
Born in 1975 in Lyari, Rehman grew up in a family with deep criminal ties. His father, Dad Muhammad, and uncle were reportedly involved in drug smuggling. Their biggest rival in the 1960s was Lyari’s first infamous gangster, Kala Nag, who was killed in a police encounter in 1967. This environment of crime and conflict shaped Rehman’s future from an early age.
Rehman Dakait entered the criminal world during his teens. At just 13, he stabbed a man, marking the beginning of his violent journey. By the age of 15, he allegedly killed his mother after suspecting her of having an affair with a rival gangster believed to be connected to his father’s murder. These shocking acts transformed the young boy into one of Lyari’s most feared individuals.
His growing brutality earned him the nickname “Rehman Dakait,” symbolizing a merciless killer. The line from Dhurandhar—“A death by Rehman Dakait is like a butcher’s work”—perfectly reflects the fear he instilled in the region.
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In the 1990s, Rehman joined the notorious Haji Lalu gang that ruled Lyari’s underworld. After Lalu’s arrest in 2001, Rehman quickly rose to power. Astonishingly, at just 21, he became the leader of a major criminal syndicate involved in extortion, kidnapping, weapon smuggling, drug trafficking, and targeted killings. His rise marked the beginning of Lyari’s bloodiest era.
Between 2001 and 2009, Rehman Dakait, along with his cousin Uzair Baloch and former rival-turned-ally Baba Ladla, established absolute dominance over Lyari. Numerous reports claim that under his orders, his men committed extreme acts of violence—some even stating they played football with the severed heads of victims. These stories cemented his place as one of the most ruthless gangsters Karachi had ever seen.
Rehman Dakait later founded the Peoples’ Aman Committee, an organization with political influence. However, his reign ended on August 9, 2009, when he was killed in a police encounter in Karachi. Pakistani politician Zulfiqar Mirza later stated he ordered the operation, though he later expressed regret. Rehman was only 34 at the time of his death.