Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar has been in the spotlight ever since the first look dropped. Many believed that Ranveer Singh was portraying Late Major Mohit Sharma AC SM. The buzz only grew louder when fans connected the film’s tone with the soldier’s heroic legacy.
But Dhar quickly ended all speculation. He clarified that Ranveer’s character is not based on Major Mohit Sharma. Yet the controversy didn’t stop there. The late soldier’s parents approached the Delhi High Court, requesting a stay on the film.
As per the court’s direction, the Central Board of Film Certification watched the film and gave it a clean go-ahead. According to the CBFC, there are no similarities between the story and the soldier’s life. With that, Dhurandhar moved ahead and is now earning strong praise from audiences and critics alike.
Interestingly, several theories online claim that the film might be inspired by one of the biggest covert operations in South Asian history. And the character lineup only fuels the curiosity. Here’s a closer look at who’s playing who — and the real-world figures behind them.
R Madhavan As Ajay Sanyal, Modelled On NSA Ajit Doval
R. Madhavan steps into one of the most fascinating roles in the film — Ajay Sanyal — a character heavily inspired by India’s legendary intelligence officer, Ajit Doval. Fans were quick to spot the striking resemblance, and Madhavan himself shared that he was even asked to make his lips thinner to match Doval’s appearance.
Ajit Doval joined the IPS in 1968 and later moved to the Central Intelligence Service. His contributions are widely recognized, especially his role in resolving nearly 15 hijacking incidents, including IC-814 in Kandahar.
He also infiltrated extremist ranks during Operation Bluestar. Working undercover, he mapped weapon locations, sabotaged internal plans, and gave Indian forces a significant advantage.
Doval’s journey didn’t stop there. He later became the Director of the Intelligence Bureau and now serves as the longest-serving National Security Advisor (NSA) in Indian history.
Akshaye Khanna As Lyari’s Rehman Dakait
A major chunk of online buzz points toward Operation Lyari as the possible inspiration behind Dhurandhar. This real-life mission, led by the Pakistani government, was one of the most intense covert operations ever conducted in the region.
Lyari — a neglected part of Karachi — struggled for decades with gang violence and drug trafficking. Gangs started forming as early as the 1960s, and by the time Rehman Dakait emerged, the area had already become a breeding ground for criminal networks.
Rehman came from a lineage deeply rooted in the gang world. His father, Dadal Baloch, ran one of Lyari’s earliest drug trafficking groups. Their dominance was challenged only by two rivals, including the one run by Haji Lalu. His son, Arshad Pappu, eventually became Rehman’s biggest nemesis.
One scene from the Dhurandhar trailer, where Akshaye Khanna’s character attacks a man in broad daylight, strongly echoes a real incident. It’s believed that Rehman killed someone close to Arshad publicly to escalate the gang rivalry.
The endless feud between Rehman and Arshad dragged Lyari into years of brutal gang wars. Innocent people often became collateral damage. The violence only reduced when police officer Chaudhary Aslam Khan arrested Rehman in 2005.
Rehman later escaped but was ultimately killed in a 2009 police encounter.
Sanjay Dutt As Pakistan’s Encounter Specialist, Chaudhary Aslam Khan
Sanjay Dutt brings to life one of the most intense characters in Dhurandhar. He plays Chaudhary Aslam Khan — a name that ruled Lyari’s underworld, not as a criminal, but as the one man gangsters feared the most.
Aslam led the Lyari Task Force (LTF), a unit created to wipe out drug lords and armed criminals. His aggressive operations made him both a hero and a controversial figure. While he successfully eliminated several dangerous targets, the LTF was often questioned for its alleged extrajudicial killings.
After the fall of Pervez Musharraf, Aslam shifted focus entirely toward eliminating all gang elements. He frequently clashed with Uzair Baloch, who replaced Rehman Dakait as a key gang leader.
Aslam survived multiple assassination attempts, including a suicide bombing at his residence that killed eight people. But in 2014, he was assassinated while traveling on the Karachi motorway.
Arjun Rampal As Major Iqbal, Based On Al-Qaeda Commander Ilyas Kashmiri
Arjun Rampal plays one of the deadliest real-life figures referenced in the film. Major Iqbal’s character mirrors Ilyas Kashmiri — a feared Al-Qaeda commander and a man once considered the successor to Osama Bin Laden.
Kashmiri’s background remains shadowy. Various reports claim he trained with Pakistan’s SSG or served in the army before joining HuJI. He commanded the Harkat-ul-Jihad Brigade, known for its highly skilled and ruthless operatives.
Kashmiri was linked to numerous terror attacks — from the Mumbai 26/11 involvement to the 2010 Pune blast and even the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
He was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2011, but confusion over his death persisted for more than a year, with Indian agencies still listing him as an active threat.
Dhurandhar isn’t based on Major Mohit Sharma, but its layered characters and gritty tone hint at inspiration from real covert operations and notorious figures across South Asia. From Rehman Dakait’s reign in Lyari to Ajit Doval’s undercover brilliance, the film brings together a complex web of historical references. And with strong performances from Akshaye Khanna, Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal, the film has sparked a fresh wave of discussion and curiosity.
Love honest, hype-free movie reviews? Stay tuned with Cinetales for more deep dives into the latest movies, series, OTT drops, and box office battles — all in one place!
Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | X |
Youtube | Pinterest | Google News |
Cinetales is on YouTube; click here to subscribe for the latest videos and updates.
