Actor and lead of Mera Lyari, Dananeer Mobeen attended the UK Asian Film Festival this weekend at BFI Southbank to discuss the film’s purpose. She clarified that it is not a response to Dhurandhar, but is instead an inspiring portrayal of Lyari and its multicultural themes, focusing on women and sports.

Addressing comments that suggest Mera Lyari is a response to Dhurandhar, Dananeer said, “It’s a disservice to boil this movie down to a response to another film. The core and crux of this movie is so special.”

“There are so many themes that we have explored in this film. We have explored Lyari, football culture, female football culture, women in sports, South Asian women in sports,” she elaborated.

The actor also noted that the film’s layered storytelling should not be viewed from a single angle: “There are so many layers in this story so to see it from this angle, I think will be a disservice.” Dananeer added, “We should see this film through a bird-eye view and keep all the themes in mind.”

She concluded by saying: “It’s a beautiful film. It was a beautiful image of Lyari, all the women we have shown and what we have seen over there. You will have to see it in the film.”

Urging audiences to view the film holistically, Dananeer’s message notes that Mera Lyari, set to release on May 8, should not be reduced to comparisons, but appreciated as a layered story rooted in Lyari’s culture, female experiences, and sports.