Dhurandhar, the high-stakes espionage thriller directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, has captivated audiences with its gritty narrative and power-packed performances. Inspired by real-life covert operations, the film delivered massive box office success while simultaneously generating significant buzz for its cast and one particularly viral dance sequence.
Cast and Key Characters
Dhurandhar features an ensemble cast that anchors the complex, multi-layered narrative:
| Actor | Character | Character Inspiration (Alleged) |
| Ranveer Singh | Hamza Ali | Loosely inspired by the undercover operations of special forces personnel (like Major Mohit Sharma). |
| Akshaye Khanna | Rehman Dakait | Inspired by Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch, the notorious, real-life gangster of Karachi’s Lyari area. |
| Sanjay Dutt | Chaudhry Aslam Khan | Inspired by the famed Pakistani ‘encounter specialist’ police officer of the same name. |
| R. Madhavan | Ajay Sanyal | Said to be modelled on India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval. |
| Arjun Rampal | Character inspired by terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri, linked to the 26/11 attacks. |
The film is directed by Aditya Dhar, known for the critically and commercially successful Uri: The Surgical Strike.
The Storyline: Undercover in Lyari
The film is a fictionalized account inspired by multiple true events, including aspects of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and the Kandahar Hijack. The story is a gritty espionage saga centered in the late 2000s, primarily in Karachi’s Lyari area—a notorious hub of gang activity and terror networks in Pakistan.
Ranveer Singh plays Hamza Ali, a mysterious Indian intelligence operative who goes deep undercover to infiltrate the Lyari gang scene. His mission is to dismantle the terror infrastructure from the inside. The narrative focuses on the dangerous intersections of spies, gangsters, informants, and operatives, navigating a labyrinth of covert operations, betrayals, and high-stakes politics.
Box Office Performance
Dhurandhar quickly established itself as a major blockbuster and the highest opener of Ranveer Singh’s career, surpassing films like Padmaavat and Simmba.
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Opening Weekend: The film collected approximately ₹103 crore (net) in India during its first three days, comfortably crossing the ₹100 crore benchmark.
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Worldwide Gross: The film demonstrated strong international appeal, with its worldwide collection crossing ₹140 crore in the opening weekend and climbing past ₹220 crore within its first five days of release.
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Audience Growth: The film’s earnings grew significantly over the weekend, driven by positive word-of-mouth, which indicates strong audience approval despite mixed initial critical responses.
What People Liked: The Viral Phenomenon and Intense Action
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Akshaye Khanna’s Dominance: Despite Ranveer Singh being the lead, Akshaye Khanna’s portrayal of the menacing antagonist, Rehman Dakait, received overwhelming praise. Critics and audiences alike hailed his performance as one of the highlights of his career.
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The “FA9LA” Moment: The film’s standout sequence—and its biggest viral success—was Akshaye Khanna’s entry, set to the Bahraini rap track ‘FA9LA’. The song, by Gulf artist Flipperachi, plays during a dramatic scene where the gangster joins a traditional dance with charismatic intensity.
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Ranveer Singh’s Restraint: Ranveer was lauded for stepping away from his usual flamboyant roles to deliver a layered and restrained performance as a covert agent.
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Aditya Dhar’s Direction: Dhar’s stylish direction, immersive world-building, and tight action sequences ensured that the film’s nearly 3.5-hour runtime rarely felt dull.
Other Interesting Aspects and Controversies
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The Unscripted Dance: Actor Danish Pandor, a co-star, revealed that Akshaye Khanna’s popular dance moves during the ‘FA9LA’ sequence were entirely unscripted and improvised on set.
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The Sequel Confirmation: The film’s success immediately led to the announcement of a sequel, Dhurandhar 2, which will reportedly hit theaters in March 2026.
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Inspiration Controversy: Prior to release, the film faced a minor controversy and a court petition from the family of Major Mohit Sharma (AC, SM), who believed Ranveer’s character was based on the decorated soldier. The director vehemently denied any direct link, clarifying that while the story is inspired by true events and operations, the characters are fictionalized.
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Original Rejection: Director Aditya Dhar revealed that the idea for Dhurandhar was initially rejected by Mukesh Ambani as “unfilmable” due to its scale and complexity.
This video breaks down the real-life intelligence operatives and figures who inspired the characters played by Ranveer Singh, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal: Reel vs Real Dhurandhar | Meet the REAL People Behind Ranveer, Madhavan & Rampal’s Characters – YouTube.