SSP Chaudhary Aslam Khan, the renowned Karachi “encounter specialist” whose life was as volatile as the criminals he pursued, once predicted his own cinematic legacy. His widow, Noreen Aslam, confirmed this prophecy, recounting how her husband had confidently told her, “Someday they’ll make movies on me.”
The blockbuster film Dhurandhar delivers on that prediction, with Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt stepping into the boots of the formidable Pakistani police officer. Dutt’s portrayal of Aslam is introduced with a striking, high-octane scene—raining bullets, delivering harsh Hindi expletives, and swaggering to the popular track “Hawa Hawa,” perfectly capturing the brutal and vibrant persona of the officer known as “Lyari’s Robin Hood.”
A Life on the Frontlines
Born Muhammad Aslam Khan in Mansehra in 1963, the Pathan officer joined the Sindh Police in the 1980s. His fierce, uncompromising style quickly distinguished him at Karachi’s Gulbahar Police Station.
For two decades, Aslam stood at the center of Karachi’s violent conflicts. He led the Lyari Task Force in an all-out state war against the city’s most ruthless gangs, sectarian killers, and extremist networks. As a senior Karachi Police officer, he orchestrated some of the city’s most dangerous operations, constantly facing death.
His widow recalled the chilling acceptance her husband had of his fate: “He would tell me, ‘My fate is sealed, God has already written my end.’”
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Credited with eliminating numerous major gangsters, Aslam was a primary target for militants. After surviving a Taliban assassination attempt in 2011, his life of service was tragically cut short. In 2014, while serving as the SSP of Karachi’s anti-terror unit, Chaudhary Aslam was assassinated by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Widow’s Response to the Film
Noreen Aslam expressed mixed feelings about Dhurandhar. She confirmed that her husband was a dedicated fan of Sanjay Dutt, having admired him since watching Khalnayak in the 1990s, and she was sure Dutt would do justice to the role.
However, she voiced distress over certain elements of the portrayal, particularly the use of terms like ‘son of the devil’ and ‘jinn’ to describe him in the movie. “We are Muslims, and such words are disrespectful not only to Aslam but his mother, who was a simple, honest woman,” she stated.
Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar and featuring a powerhouse cast including Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and R. Madhavan (alongside Ranveer Singh as an undercover Indian spy), has become a global success, surpassing the Rs 100-crore mark worldwide in its opening weekend.
