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
