Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, not only created waves at the box office but also left audiences deeply moved with its emotionally charged storytelling. One of the most haunting moments in the film was the recreation of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, a sequence that reportedly left even the actors shattered. Now, actor R Madhavan has revealed what truly happened on set after filming the intense scene.
Akshaye Khanna
Akshaye Khanna Broke Down
In Dhurandhar, Akshaye Khanna portrayed Rehman Dacoit, while Arjun Rampal played ISI Major Iqbal, both characters depicted as Pakistani operatives. A powerful scene in the film shows their characters celebrating the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. However, according to Madhavan, once director Aditya Dhar called cut, the atmosphere changed dramatically.
Dhurandhar
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Speaking in an interview, Madhavan revealed, “After the scene was over, both Akshaye Khanna and Arjun Rampal were completely shattered. They cried profusely. It wasn’t just acting for them. They relived those days. They witnessed such real events. It brought back memories. After that, there was silence on the set.” The emotional weight of recreating the 26/11 tragedy reportedly became overwhelming for the actors, as they revisited one of India’s darkest chapters.
R Madhavan
In the film, R Madhavan played Intelligence Bureau Chief Ajay Sanyal, a character widely believed to be inspired by India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The film drew inspiration from multiple real-life national security operations, with the 26/11 attack being one of its most impactful references. Following the 26/11 recreation, the film features a striking sequence where the screen turns red, and real-like audio of terrorists speaking to their handlers plays in the background.
Dhurandhar
The chilling instructions allegedly urging attackers to spare no one, including women and children left audiences stunned in theatres. The haunting sound design and raw presentation made the scene one of the most talked-about moments of the film. Released on December 5, 2025, Dhurandhar shattered several box office records and emerged as one of the year’s biggest blockbusters.
