Dhurandhar plot revealed: Aditya Dhar film embarks on gritty counter-terror mission; Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan play real-life inspired figures

The brutal, high-stakes spy thriller Dhurandhar is based on unbelievable true events in the world of R&AW's clandestine operations, and its director, Aditya Dhar, who won a national award for his film Uri: The Surgical Strike, has revealed the film's trailer. The film, which is set for a worldwide release on December 5, 2025, promises to be a deeply patriotic tale about the battle against transnational terrorism in India.

Dhurandhar plot

The plot of Dhurandhar is unveiled when Ajay Sanyal, played by R. Madhavan, makes a terrifying mission statement: "We must infiltrate the very core of terrorism in Pakistan." As the film opens with the ISI antagonist, Major Iqbal (Arjun Rampal), dramatically delivering the reference to Pakistan's past policy of "Bleed India with a thousand cuts," this is shown as India's final reaction. The plot will develop through a succession of espionage and counter-operations, highlighting the risks and ambiguities encountered by India's undercover agents.

Each member of Dhar's cast has a weighty and frequently sinister real-life resonance:

Ajay Sanyal, the "Charioteer of Karma," portrayed by R. Madhavan, is a cool-headed, systematic thinker who is said to have been modelled after Ajit Doval, India's national security advisor. An aggressive and proactive intelligence campaign is being guided by Sanyal, who is the mastermind and Charioteer of Karma, from the command centre.

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In Ranveer Singh's “The Wrath of God”, the actor portrays a man with long hair, a thick beard, and explosive intensity. Even though we don't know his identity, he's the ruthless field agent carrying out the task. According to popular belief on social media, his character is based on Major Mohit Sharma, an Indian Army officer who, under the identity 'Iqbal', managed to go undercover in Hizbul Mujahideen before being killed, illustrating the tremendous cost of such operations.

Sanjay Dutt as SP Chaudhary Aslam “The Jinn” is an influential Pakistani politician, SP Chaudhary Aslam, who is known for his dark and commanding personality. The late Chaudhry Aslam Khan, a highly decorated and notoriously controversial 'encounter specialist' of the Karachi police, who oversaw the city's Anti-Extremist Cell and survived numerous assassination attempts by the Taliban before his violent death in a bomb blast, is the direct inspiration for the character. An offspring of 'Shaitaan and a Jinn' gives him a reputation for being both dangerous and morally complicated.

Returning to his terrifying role as “The Apex Predator”, Akshaye Khanna stars as Rehman Dakait. This figure is inspired by the actual Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch, a feared and powerful criminal from Karachi's Lyari area who presided over the infamous Peoples' Aman Committee until his death in a police confrontation. The character that Khanna will play is an icy, merciless criminal lord who stands in for an important link in the criminal web that India is trying to break up.

Arjun Rampal portrays Major Iqbal ISI, also known as the "Angel of Death", who completes the trio of villains. The horrific torture scenes shown in the trailer foreshadow the vicious espionage game that the Indian operator would have to defeat.

Anticipated patriotic action epic

Dhurandhar, directed by Dhar, promises to be an emotionally charged and violently patriotic film that will pay tribute to the unsung heroes of India's intelligence community. The film is jam-packed with explosives and furious gunfights. Because of its massive scope, rumours have circulated that the film will be released in two parts, solidifying its position as one of the most anticipated action epics of 2025 in Bollywood.

FAQs:

Who is the director of the film Dhurandhar?

The film Dhurandhar is written, directed, and co-produced by Aditya Dhar, who is well-known for directing the blockbuster and National Award-winning film Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019).

Who are the main actors in Dhurandhar?

The film features an ensemble cast led by Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, and R. Madhavan. Other prominent cast members include Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi.

When is the release date for Dhurandhar?

Dhurandhar is scheduled to be released in cinemas on December 5, 2025.