Mustafa Ahmed's Journey from Call Centre to Bollywood Star in Dhurandhar 2 Mustafa Ahmed, the actor playing Rizwan in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge, has carved a unique path from a call centre job to Bollywood stardom. At 21, he was one of the youngest team leaders at a call centre, earning a monthly salary of ₹1 lakh. However, his life took a dramatic turn when an incident at a gym sparked a career shift. In a podcast with Alpha Coach, Mustafa recounted how he decided to train a woman in her mid-40s who was being overlooked by her trainer. Two months later, she handed him an envelope with a letter that read, “You are meant for this and born for this… if you don’t do this, it will be criminal.” This message convinced him to quit his call centre job and pursue fitness. His mother initially disapproved, as he had only completed 10th grade, but he pressed on. He began working as a gym trainer in Janakpuri, earning ₹10,000 a month. Despite the early struggles—waking up at 4 a.m. to open the gym by 5:30 and closing at 10:30—he eventually joined Fitness First, a new gym chain in India. There, he was promoted to a silver-level trainer with a salary of ₹18,000 and a commission structure of ₹600 per hour of personal training. His dedication earned him a reputation as one of Asia’s top trainers. Mustafa’s transition to acting began when his wife, who ran a fitness bakery, helped him connect with industry contacts. He eventually replaced Hrithik Roshan’s former trainer and secured a full-time role with the actor. This led to collaborations with other stars like Vicky Kaushal, Ranveer Singh, and Yami Gautam. His Bollywood debut came with Yami Gautam’s 2025 film Dhoom Dhaam, followed by a role in Dhurandhar as an Indian spy infiltrating Arshad Pappu’s gang.#aditya_dhar #dhurandhar_2 #yami_gautam #fitness_first #mustafa_ahmed
Mustafa Ahmed, the actor who portrayed Hamza’s aide Rizwan in Dhurandhar 2, began his career as a gym trainer earning just Rs 10,000 a month. His journey from a fitness instructor in Delhi’s Janakpuri to a celebrated actor highlights the perseverance required to break into the entertainment industry. Years before his breakthrough, Ahmed struggled with dyslexia and left formal education, opting instead for physical pursuits like sports and dance. His early career included a stint as a call centre team leader, where he earned Rs 1 lakh a month by 21, but a chance encounter at a gym would alter his path forever. While training a client at a gym in Janakpuri, Ahmed noticed a woman in her 40s being overlooked by a trainer. Stepping in to assist her, he later received a letter from the woman, who credited his guidance with reigniting her marriage. The message resonated deeply, prompting Ahmed to quit his stable job and pursue fitness full-time. Starting at a West Delhi gym for Rs 10,000 a month, he worked grueling hours, waking at 4 am to open the facility. His dedication paid off when he joined Fitness First in Connaught Place, earning Rs 18,000 plus Rs 600 per session. This opportunity, which included a modest share of his earnings, marked the beginning of his rise as a top trainer. Within three months, Ahmed became the No. 1 trainer for Fitness First in Asia, conducting up to 14 sessions daily and earning over Rs 1.4 lakh monthly by 2009. His success was fueled by resilience and a passion for fitness, which he credits as the driving force behind his achievements. However, Ahmed’s ambitions extended beyond fitness. Observing the dominance of international trainers in India, he questioned why local trainers weren’t recognized equally.#aditya_dhar #dhurandhar_2 #mustafa_ahmed #janakpuri #fitness_first
