Ranveer Singh made a playful remark during a special screening of Dhurandhar 2, teasing co-star Yami Gautam and director Aditya Dhar. The event, held in Mumbai on March 18, featured the film’s cast and crew, including Jyoti Deshpande, who delivered a heartfelt gratitude speech. Deshpande praised Dhar’s composure and determination, calling him “the voice of reason” and someone who “always gets his way.” Dhar, in his speech, expressed gratitude to the audience, cast, and crew, acknowledging their support as crucial to the film’s success. He mentioned the overwhelming positive response, including memes, and emphasized the collective effort that made the project possible. During the event, Ranveer and Yami Gautam were spotted in the audience. When called upon, Ranveer joked about Dhar’s reputation for “getting his way,” pointing toward Yami and quipping, “Yeah, ‘gets his way’ wali baat yahan par aakar khatam ho jaati hai.” The comment drew laughter from the crowd, including Yami and others present. The film, Dhurandhar 2, opened strongly at the box office, grossing ₹60 crore in Hindi on its first Monday. The Telugu version added ₹3.50 crore, while the Kannada, Malayalam, and Tamil versions contributed ₹0.15 crore, ₹0.15 crore, and ₹1.20 crore, respectively. By March 19, the film had already earned ₹102.55 crore in India, with 21,633 shows allocated. The sequel, released in December 2025, became the year’s highest-grossing film and the top earner in a single language. It features Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, and Sanjay Dutt reprising their roles. Yami Gautam and Ranveer Singh are central to the cast, continuing their collaboration from the original film.#aditya_dhar #ranveer_singh #dhurandhar_2 #yami_gautam #jyoti_deshpande
From Yami Gautam to PM Modi: Dhurandhar 2 surprises fans with unique appearances The Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar 2 has opened to a thunderous response in cinemas, setting multiple box office records since its release on March 19. Fans were surprised to witness a mix of unexpected appearances in the second installment. Let us take a look at some of these special roles. Yami Gautam, the wife of director Aditya Dhar, surprised fans with her cameo role in Dhurandhar 2. She played the role of Shazia Bano, who acts as a spy inside Pakistan to help Ranveer Singh's character Hamza. The actress, known for her work in films like Bala and Pyaar Ka Punchnama, brought a unique flair to the narrative, adding depth to the story's espionage elements. In the film, Mashhoor Amrohi played a character inspired by former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif. His portrayal captured the essence of the former leader, with many viewers noting the striking similarity in appearance. The actor's performance sparked discussions about the film's approach to political themes and its depiction of historical figures. Danish Iqbal played the role of 'Bade Saab' in Dhurandhar 2, a character inspired by the most-wanted criminal and underworld don, similar to Dawood Ibrahim. His casting was kept a closely guarded secret by the film's crew before the final reveal. The actor's portrayal of the antagonist added tension to the plot, highlighting the film's focus on power struggles and moral ambiguity. Actor Salim Siddiqui essayed the role of Atif Ahmed, the character loosely based on the late gangster-politician of Uttar Pradesh, Atiq Ahmed. The film's creators drew inspiration from real-life events, blending fiction with elements of contemporary political and criminal narratives.#aditya_dhar #yami_gautam #dawood_ibrahim #nawaz_sharif #mashhoor_amrohi
Yami Gautam's Cameo in Dhurandhar 2 Sparks Nostalgia for Her Earlier Roles Yami Gautam's brief appearance in Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar: The Revenge has drawn attention for its subtle nod to her past performances in Haq and Uri: The Surgical Strike. The film, which premiered on March 19, features the actress as a nurse operating as an undercover agent in Pakistan, with her uniform bearing the name tag "Shazia Bano." This detail mirrors her character in Haq, where she played a woman with the same name, creating a nostalgic callback for fans. The cameo also echoes her role in Uri: The Surgical Strike, where she portrayed Pallavi Sharma, a R&AW officer disguised as a nurse named Jasmine. Both films share the narrative of a nurse-turned-espionage agent, a thematic link that has sparked discussions among viewers. Notably, Uri marked Yami's first collaboration with Aditya Dhar, who later married the actress, adding a personal dimension to the connection. Dhurandhar 2 stars Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, and Sanjay Dutt, with its action-packed storyline and ensemble cast contributing to its commercial success. The film's box office performance has been impressive, with domestic collections reaching Rs 519.12 crore and global earnings totaling Rs 829.76 crore within five days. On its opening Monday, the film earned Rs 65 crore from 20,382 shows, surpassing the Rs 500 crore mark in India. The Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Tamil versions of the film also contributed to its earnings, with the Telugu version adding Rs 3.50 crore and the other regional releases collectively bringing in Rs 2.55 crore. The extended weekend saw the film open with Rs 102.55 crore on March 19, followed by collections of Rs 80.72 crore on March 20 and Rs 113 crore on March 21.#haq #aditya_dhar #dhurandhar_2 #yami_gautam #uri_the_surgical_strike
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
Aditya Dhar's First Film With Fawad Khan Was Shelved, He Made It Later With Yami Gautam Aditya Dhar, known for his blockbuster debut with Vicky Kaushal's Uri: The Surgical Strike, originally planned to direct a film starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Katrina Kaif. The project, titled Raat Baaki, was set to be produced by Dharma Productions and was intended to be a glossy romance. However, the project was abruptly shelved in 2016 following the Uri terror attack, which led to a nationwide ban on Pakistani artists working in India. The attack, which killed 19 soldiers, triggered public outrage and resulted in the suspension of collaborations involving Pakistani actors, effectively ending Dhar's debut project before it could begin. The shelving of Raat Baaki marked a significant setback for Dhar, who had been working as a screenwriter for years. The film was slated to begin production by the end of 2016, but the geopolitical fallout from the attack disrupted plans. Film scholar Yasser Usman noted in an article for NDTV that the Uri attack not only shocked the nation but also "quietly ended Dhar's big break before it began." The project was left in limbo, with no clear path forward for the director. Years later, Dhar reimagined Raat Baaki as the 2024 Netflix film Dhoom Dhaam, starring Yami Gautam and Pratik Gandhi. In a 2025 interview with Bollywood Hungama, Dhar confirmed that the film was a rework of his original concept. He described the adaptation as a contemporary update, tailored for modern audiences. While the original project featured Fawad Khan and Katrina Kaif, the new version shifted focus to Yami Gautam, with the story being restructured to align with current cultural and social contexts.#aditya_dhar #yami_gautam #fawad_khan #dharma_productions #raat_baki
Dhurandhar 2: 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' Advance Booking Surpasses Rs 22 Crore The eagerly anticipated sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, has already generated significant buzz ahead of its theatrical release. Advance booking numbers for the film have exceeded expectations, with over 6 lakh tickets sold on the first day of pre-sales. According to Sacnilk reports, the film earned a gross of Rs 14.39 crore from Day 1 bookings, and when including blocked seats, the total rose to Rs 22.9 crore. The movie is set to debut in theaters on March 19, 2026, and is expected to challenge major box office records. The film’s advance booking figures reflect strong demand across key cities in India, including Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, and Pune. For the premiere show on March 18, the movie reportedly collected Rs 37.11 crore through advance sales, while Day 1 bookings alone surpassed Rs 22 crore. Combined, the pre-sale numbers stand at Rs 59.81 crore, with the global pre-sales crossing Rs 110 crore. Overseas earnings for the opening weekend in North America reached approximately Rs 46 crore, with the opening day and preview shows contributing Rs 22.9 crore. Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar: The Revenge stars Ranveer Singh as an Indian spy infiltrating terror groups in Lyari Town, Pakistan. The film also features Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun. A notable addition to the cast is Yami Gautam, who joins the crucial hospital scene, adding a new twist to the storyline. The film’s success is attributed to the hype surrounding its release and the strong pre-sale performance. Industry analysts suggest that the movie is poised to become a blockbuster, with its massive advance bookings indicating strong audience anticipation.#aditya_dhar #ranveer_singh #dhurandhar_the_revenge #yami_gautam #lyari_town
Ram Gopal Varma Praises Aditya Dhar, Yami Gautam’s Success After Dhurandhar Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has publicly expressed admiration for director Aditya Dhar and his wife, actress Yami Gautam, following the success of Dhar’s film Dhurandhar, released in December 2025. Varma, who has consistently praised Dhar since the movie’s debut, highlighted how the director has transformed the cinematic landscape. He argued that Dhar’s storytelling approach has fundamentally altered the way films are structured, impacting not just Hindi cinema but also regional industries like Telugu. Varma noted that Dhar’s innovations have forced filmmakers to abandon traditional methods, leading to significant financial risks. He mentioned that many Telugu action films are undergoing extensive reshoots due to Dhar’s influence, resulting in substantial budget overruns. “They hate him because he’s made them step out of their comfort zones,” Varma said during an interview with Rediff. He emphasized that Dhar’s work has set a new standard, making it impossible for the industry to revert to older practices. Yami Gautam’s performance in the courtroom drama Haq, inspired by the 1985 Shah Bano case, has also drawn praise. The film, produced by Junglee Pictures and others, features Emraan Hashmi, Vartika Singh, and Sheeba Chaddha. Varma acknowledged Gautam’s role in the film, suggesting that the couple’s success has made the industry wary. “The film industry is waiting for them to fumble and fall,” he added, implying that their achievements have created tension among peers. Dhurandhar itself is a spy thriller set in Pakistan’s Lyari town, starring Sanjay Dutt, Ranveer Singh, and Akshaye Khanna. The film’s sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, is scheduled for release on March 19, 2026.#aditya_dhar #dhurandhar #ram_gopal_varma #yami_gautam #junglee_pictures
Ram Gopal Varma Reveals Why The Film Industry Wants Aditya Dhar And Yami Gautam To "Fumble And Fall" Ram Gopal Varma has expressed his admiration for Aditya Dhar's work, particularly the film Dhurandhar: The Revenge, while also highlighting the growing unease within the film industry toward the director and his collaborator, Yami Gautam. Varma recently warned that Aditya Dhar and Yami Gautam must proceed with caution, as the industry is "waiting for them to fumble and fall." This sentiment comes amid reports that Telugu big-budget action films are facing reshoots due to the influence of Dhar's work, leading to significant budgetary challenges. Varma emphasized that Aditya Dhar has fundamentally altered the storytelling approach in Indian cinema, reshaping the grammar of narratives across all languages. He noted that the industry is now grappling with the consequences of this shift, as many filmmakers are forced to abandon their traditional methods. In Telugu cinema, for instance, upcoming action films are undergoing extensive reshoots, which Varma described as creating "huge budgetary liabilities." He argued that this disruption is a direct result of Dhar's success, which has compelled the industry to move beyond its comfort zones. The director also praised the trailer of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, calling it "stratospheric level" and praising Aditya Dhar's vision. Varma described the sequel as a "rampage of revenge," underscoring its intense and personal narrative. The film continues the story of Hamza Ali Mazari, an undercover Indian agent embedded in Pakistan's underworld, as he navigates a dangerous conflict driven by rage and vengeance. The trailer features a powerful score and showcases Ranveer Singh in a more menacing role, reflecting the protagonist's transformation.#aditya_dhar #ranveer_singh #dhurandhar_the_revenge #ram_gopal_varma #yami_gautam
