Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar introduced audiences to the shadowy world of spies and the streets of Pakistan’s Lyari. What the makers may not have anticipated, however, was how audiences would latch on to the film’s little details and turn them into real-world destinations. While its dialogues and dance steps have taken over social media, Ladakh’s Sangam Point and a cafe have now become tourist hotspots, earning themselves a Dhurandhar connection.
Sangam Point, the scenic confluence of the emerald-green Indus and turquoise-blue Zanskar rivers, featured prominently in Ranveer Singh and Sara Arjun’s romantic track Gehra Hua. Since the film’s release, the location has become a popular stop for fans, with couples making their way there to recreate the film’s picturesque moments.
But an even more unexpected Dhurandhar hotspot is the cafe now popularly known as the ‘Dhurandhar Cafe’. Originally called SH Khan Restaurant, the eatery was transformed on screen into ‘Washma Butt’, the tea shop where Hamza (Ranveer Singh) and Alam (Gaurav Gera) share some of the film’s most memorable conversations.
Located amid the bustling Leh Market on Mall Road, the cafe has now become a must-visit destination for youngsters, families and Dhurandhar fans travelling to Ladakh. The owner, Sohel Ali, exclusively told India Today that after the film’s success, they decided to retain the ‘Washma Butt’ identity. They also embraced the nickname ‘Dhurandhar Cafe’, which has now become a familiar stop for tourists and locals alike.
“As you can see, our cafe has become a sightseeing spot, and we have a huge crowd almost every day. I remember when Ranveer and Gaurav were shooting, there was a line of people trying to peek through. That was the local public, and now we see people from across the country coming here to become a part of the same world. And while I hope Ranveer or Gaurav also visit soon, their team and friends did come along and shoot vlogs here,” he said.
advertisement
Step inside and the setting feels instantly familiar to anyone who has watched the film. The green walls have been retained, while Ali has added multiple portraits from Dhurandhar to recreate the film’s vibe. The seating is simple, with wooden tables and chairs, and there is no elaborate crockery. Tea and food are served in steel glasses and plates, just as one might expect from a no-frills local tea shop in a small town in Pakistan.
One wall is dominated by a large mural of Ranveer and Gaurav’s characters sitting across from each other, deep in conversation over tea, or rather, noon chai. The menu is equally straightforward, offering different varieties of tea, including one named after the film. And that, in our honest opinion, was the standout offering. The noon chai, however, was an entirely different story. It was, to put it mildly, despicable, and our reaction after the first sip was not too different from Ranveer’s in the film.
The cafe’s menu includes: For breakfast, there are different varieties of parathas, omelette, Maggi, and ramen noodles, while lunch consists of veg thali, chicken thali, rajma-rice and other veg and non-veg options. What stands out is the tea menu, which has Dhurandhar chai, namkeen chai, Kashmiri Kehwa, lemon ginger tea and other regular variants of coffee and tea.
Interestingly, visitors are not required to sit down and eat or drink at the cafe. If you’re there purely for the Dhurandhar experience, you can simply walk in, click your pictures and leave within minutes. There is a Rs 50 charge for doing so. The cafe also has costumes inspired by Ranveer and Gaurav’s characters, complete with wigs, allowing visitors to dress up and recreate their own Hamza and Alam moments for the camera.
Ali explained why they chose to preserve the Dhurandhar connection even after the shoot wrapped. “After the film’s release, we didn’t change the name as we wanted to retain the same setting. People enjoy being Hamza and Alam for a moment, and we wanted them to enjoy it,” he said.
During our visit, we met several customers who said they had discovered the cafe through social media and wanted to experience the location for themselves. A doctor from Delhi said she loved Ranveer Singh in Dhurandhar and was keen to get herself clicked at the exact spot featured in the film. An engineer from Bengaluru described the cafe as an iconic destination among youngsters, adding that his friends and family were equally excited to see him recreate the Dhurandhar experience and send them pictures.
“It kind of feels like we are in Lyari. The neighbourhood is very similar to what was shown in the film. And getting to sit in the same spot as we saw in the film is a thrill in itself. I feel like Alam Bhai right now, sitting with my Hamza, giving them life lessons,” a digital marketer from Mumbai told us.
A businessman from Gorakhpur, meanwhile, said that visiting the cafe had been on his list ever since he landed in Ladakh. He admitted that the food and even the tea were average, but insisted that wasn’t really the point. “We are here for a reel, not for food,” he said, summing up the cafe’s newfound appeal rather perfectly.
For a place that existed long before Dhurandhar, Washma Butt has now found a new identity on the tourist map. The food may not be the biggest draw, but the chance to sit where Hamza and Alam once sat, recreate their looks and step into the world of the film, even briefly, has turned this little Leh cafe into an unlikely piece of Dhurandhar fandom.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
