Inside Dhurandhar: The Real Faces Behind Ranveer Singh’s Spy Thriller

When the trailer for Dhurandhar landed, it stirred up the kind of curiosity only a tightly guarded spy film can spark. Aditya Dhar’s vision and Ranveer Singh’s intense, shape-shifting presence instantly pushed viewers into theory mode, especially since the makers describe the film as rooted in “incredible true events.” That’s all fans needed to start matching each character with their real-world counterpart.

Ranveer Singh as an Undercover Warrior

Ranveer’s character isn’t named in the trailer, which only fuels speculation. Many believe he’s playing Major Mohit Sharma, the Para SF officer who was awarded the Ashoka Chakra. Sharma famously operated under the alias Iftikhar Bhat during a covert mission in Kashmir, infiltrating militant networks before his death in action. The rugged, lived-in look Ranveer carries in the film feels like a nod to that gritty, high-risk world.

R. Madhavan and The Strategist’s Shadow

Madhavan steps into the role of Ajay Sanyal, a senior RAW operative who instantly reminded people of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The mannerisms, the sharpness in his scenes, and that quiet authority echo the public image of Doval, even though the film never states it directly. It’s the kind of character that feels drawn from reality, without being a straight-up portrayal.

Arjun Rampal, The Chilling Antagonist

Rampal’s Major Iqbal barely needs dialogue to unsettle you. One glimpse of him during an interrogation scene is enough to show the kind of darkness his character operates in. Viewers have already linked him to Ilyas Kashmiri, a notorious militant figure. The icy poise and conviction Rampal brings to the part strengthens that assumption.

Akshaye Khanna and Sanjay Dutt: Two Sides of The Chaos

Akshaye Khanna plays Rehman Dakait, a character that mirrors Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch, the Karachi gangster who rose from poverty into the world of organised crime.

Sanjay Dutt, meanwhile, takes on SP Chaudhary Aslam, clearly inspired by Chaudhry Aslam Khan, the Pakistani police officer known for his fierce crackdown on gangs and extremist groups before he was killed in a massive blast.

Dhurandhar blends fact and fiction with a deliberate blur, letting the film stand on its own while drawing unmistakable lines from real people and real conflicts. With its mix of layered characters, political undercurrents, and a cast that knows how to hold a frame, the film is shaping up to be far more than a standard action thriller. It’s a look into a world we usually only hear whispers about.