Tamannaah Bhatia for Dhurandhar song Shararat? Real reason Aditya Dhar refused the actor's cameo in Ranveer Singh's espionage actioner
Spy thriller Dhurandhar is a hit. Director Aditya Dhar avoided a Tamannaah Bhatia cameo in Shararat song to keep focus on the story. The sequel to this star-studded film arrives March 19, 2026.
Last Updated: 07.15 PM, Dec 21, 2025
The spy thriller Dhurandhar has been doing well at the box office thanks to both favourable reviews and recommendations from viewers. The film's high-stakes storyline is undeniably appealing, but new details about the making of the song Shararat have also generated a lot of buzz.
Original casting choice for Shararat
The song eventually featured Ayesha Khan and Krystle D'Souza; however, choreographer Vijay Ganguly recently revealed that Tamannaah Bhatia was the original choice.
Filmygyan recently interviewed the ace choreographer, who said that director Aditya Dhar purposefully went in a different way, even though he had suggested Tamannaah for the scene. That the musical number stayed on track and didn't turn into a tired "item number" was the filmmaker's main worry.
Avoiding the "item song" cliché
"Aditya was very clear that he did not want what people call an item song, something that went out of the story. If it were just about one girl, it would have taken attention away from the story. That’s why there are two girls, not one. He didn’t want the attention to be about this one person. If it was Tamannaah, it would've been about her and not the story," Vijay explained, elaborating on the director's decision.
The addition of a single big performer, Ganguly said, may have thrown off the geopolitical thriller's rhythm. According to him, "Jo ho raha tha film mein, there was a lot going on, and if you go away from the story, then the song is just a cut-to song."
Real-world inspirations
The plot and characters in Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar are based on actual intelligence operations. R&AW missions and Operation Lyari, a crackdown on crime syndicates in the Lyari district of Karachi, Pakistan, influenced the script.
Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and R. Madhavan are all part of the film's ensemble cast.
Technical excellence
The cinematography, soundtrack, and overall technical competence of the production have garnered accolades for creating an immersive atmosphere. Reportedly, Dhar wanted to keep the ensemble spirit of the production alive in Shararat by having two performers instead of one A-list cameo so that no one musical moment could overpower the discourse.
The film is the first installment of a planned two-part series. The production team has announced that Dhurandhar Part 2 will be released in theatres on March 19, 2026, following the commercial and critical success of its debut.
Dhurandhar FAQ:
Q: Is the movie Dhurandhar based on a true story?
A: Yes, Dhurandhar is inspired by real-world intelligence operations and geopolitical events. The screenplay draws heavily from missions conducted by India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and specifically references "Operation Lyari," which was a major crackdown on criminal syndicates in the Lyari region of Karachi, Pakistan.
Q: When is Dhurandhar Part 2 releasing?
A: Following the box office success of the first film, the makers have officially confirmed that the sequel is already in the works. Dhurandhar Part 2 is scheduled to be released in theatres on March 19, 2026.
Q: Who is in the cast of Dhurandhar?
A: The film features a high-profile ensemble cast led by Ranveer Singh. He is joined by Akshaye Khanna (playing the antagonist Rehman Dakait), Sanjay Dutt (as SP Chaudhary Aslam), R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sara Arjun.