Dhurandhar Trailer Revisits Pakistan’s ‘Thousand Cuts’ Doctrine

The newly released trailer of Dhurandhar sets an intense tone from its opening frame, drawing directly from one of the most controversial chapters in India–Pakistan history. The film dives into the origins of Pakistan’s “Bleed India with a thousand cuts” doctrine—an idea rooted in political rhetoric that later shaped decades of covert conflict.

The promo begins with Arjun Rampal’s character, Major Iqbal of the ISI, recalling how Pakistan’s former President General Zia-ul-Haq’s infamous line became a lifelong inspiration. Rampal narrates that he first heard the phrase as a child, and the trailer quickly shifts to a chilling torture sequence that establishes his character’s brutality and ideological commitment.

While Zia popularised the doctrine, its conceptual origins trace back to former Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. His 1969 book The Myth of Independence and his fiery statements at the United Nations—where he vowed to wage a “thousand-year war” against India—laid the ideological groundwork for a long, relentless confrontation.

Bhutto’s rhetoric, though not explicitly linked to terrorism, shaped Pakistan’s mindset after the 1965 war. Following the defeat of 1971, Pakistan recognised that direct military confrontation with India was unsustainable. This prompted a shift toward proxy warfare and insurgency—strategies that took formal shape under Zia-ul-Haq’s regime.

Zia operationalised the doctrine using the ISI, funnelling support to proxy groups across Kashmir, Punjab, and other regions. Over the next decades, this “thousand cuts” strategy became the backbone of Pakistan’s covert operations against India.

Dhurandhar appears to fictionalise this turbulent history through a high-stakes espionage thriller led by Ranveer Singh. The trailer hints at a narrative woven with personal loss, covert missions, border tensions, and the ideological war that has shaped subcontinental geopolitics for decades. Action-heavy visuals and emotional beats give the film the flavour of a gritty, patriotic saga “inspired by true events.”

Directed, written, and produced by Aditya Dhar—best known for Uri: The Surgical Strike—the film features a powerful ensemble cast including Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna and Ranveer Singh. Presented by Jio Studios, Dhurandhar is set for release on December 5.