Actress Saumya Tandon has shared an intense behind-the-scenes revelation from the set of the blockbuster film Dhurandhar, revealing that she delivered a real slap to co-star Akshaye Khanna during one of their most emotional scenes. The moment was captured in a close-up take at the insistence of director Aditya Dhar, who wanted raw authenticity in the performance.
Dhurandhar, a high-profile spy thriller directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and many others, has been one of the most talked-about Hindi films of the year. Among its many intense moments is a pivotal emotional confrontation involving Khanna’s character and Saumya’s character, Ulfat, his on-screen wife.
Saumya explained that during this emotionally charged sequence, which follows the devastating loss of the couple’s son, the reality of her action was meant to mirror the pain and desperation of the moment. The director encouraged her to go beyond a simulated gesture and make the action genuine. In her own words, Aditya Dhar insisted it had to be “authentic,” pushing Saumya to deliver a real slap rather than a faked one.
She later shared behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot on social media, giving fans a glimpse into the gravity of the moment. Saumya recounted that the scene was both thrilling and terrifying, as the emotional stakes were high and the demands of the director made it a deeply personal performance. She admitted that she originally tried to “fake it,” but ultimately did it for real when both the director and Akshaye Khanna gave their approval.
Akshaye Khanna, known for his grounded performances and measured presence on screen, reportedly reacted professionally during the take. Saumya’s account suggests that the actor’s calm response, essentially telling her to “go for it”, created an environment of trust that allowed the intense take to unfold naturally.
The scene has resonated with audiences who appreciated not only the emotional weight of the moment on screen but also the craft behind it after seeing Saumya’s candid account. The film itself has been praised for balancing gripping narrative with powerful performances from its ensemble cast, and this moment, both on camera and off, exemplifies the dedication of the actors involved.
Saumya’s revelation has sparked discussion about the lengths actors go to in order to deliver convincing portrayals. It also highlights how directors like Aditya Dhar push their cast to embrace vulnerability and commitment in pursuit of storytelling that feels lived-in and truthful. In Dhurandhar, where raw emotion and intense conflict are central to the narrative, that directorial philosophy clearly informed how key scenes were captured.
For Saumya, this moment marked a significant milestone in her film work. Known primarily for her television roles prior to Dhurandhar, this performance shone a spotlight on her ability to handle emotionally demanding material and to go beyond surface-level acting to deliver something that audiences and critics alike recognise as compelling and genuine.
As Dhurandhar continues to hold strong at the box office and earns critical attention, the story behind this intense scene adds another layer to its cultural footprint. The fact that an iconic moment involved a real action by one actor to enhance its impact only deepens audience engagement with the film’s craftsmanship and the artistic risks actors and directors take to create memorable cinema.