Dhurandhar Cast: Inside the Star Power and Salaries Behind 2025’s Blockbuster Spy Thriller

Dhurandhar Cast: Who’s Who in the Spy Blockbuster?

When Dhurandhar landed in theaters on December 5, 2025, it wasn’t just another Bollywood action flick. It was a high-stakes, three-and-a-half-hour espionage thriller that drew audiences into the shadowy world of undercover agents, gangster networks, and cross-border intrigue. But behind the explosive action and gripping story, it’s the cast—an eclectic mix of veterans and rising stars—that truly powers the film’s success.

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar boasts a stellar lineup: Ranveer Singh in a career-redefining lead, the enigmatic Akshaye Khanna as the formidable Rehman Dakait, Arjun Rampal as ISI’s Major Iqbal, R Madhavan as the IB chief Ajay Sanyal, and Sanjay Dutt delivering swagger as SP Chaudhary Aslam. Supporting roles include Sara Arjun as Yalina Jamali, Rakesh Bedi, Naveen Kaushik, Manav Gohil, and Danish Pandor. Each actor brings a distinct flavor, lending realism and grit to the film’s dense narrative, as noted by Times Now and Zee News.

Star Salaries: Behind the Scenes of Bollywood’s Biggest Paychecks

With the box office roaring past Rs 150 crore in just five days and the film heading towards mega-blockbuster status, attention quickly turned to what these stars earned. According to Financial Express and News18 reports:

• Ranveer Singh—the highest-paid actor—commanded between Rs 30 crore and Rs 50 crore for his lead role as undercover agent Hamza/Jaskirat.
• R Madhavan reportedly earned Rs 9 crore for his portrayal of Ajay Sanyal, the IB chief.
• Akshaye Khanna and Sanjay Dutt each pocketed around Rs 2.5 crore.
• Arjun Rampal and Sara Arjun were both paid approximately Rs 1 crore for their roles.

This salary breakdown not only reflects the film’s massive production budget—estimated at Rs 140 crore—but also the star power driving its box office performance.

Character Highlights: Performance, Praise, and Screen Presence

At the heart of Dhurandhar is Ranveer Singh’s transformation. As Hamza Ali Mazari, later revealed as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, Ranveer dives into the psyche of an undercover operative navigating Karachi’s terror networks. His performance, described by critics as “career-best,” is both intense and nuanced, propelling the story through its labyrinth of alliances and betrayals. The film cleverly weaves real historical events—such as IC-814 and the 26/11 attacks—into its plot, amplifying the stakes for both characters and audience.

Akshaye Khanna emerges as a show-stealer, embodying the gangster Rehman with a quiet menace and unpredictability that lingers long after his scenes. Industry voices from Times Now and social media praise his “unfathomable” acting style, with Shah Rukh Khan himself lauding Khanna’s ability to create magic whenever he appears on screen. Khanna’s villainous roles—here and in earlier films like Race, Humraaz, and Chhaava—have cemented his place as 2025’s highest-grossing Indian actor, overtaking stars like Vicky Kaushal and Akshay Kumar.

Arjun Rampal’s portrayal of ISI officer Major Iqbal, based loosely on Ilyas Kashmiri, adds a menacing counterpoint to Ranveer’s agent. R Madhavan as Ajay Sanyal, modeled on real-life spymaster Ajit Doval, anchors the film’s intelligence operations with understated authority. Sanjay Dutt brings his trademark swagger to SP Chaudhary Aslam, while Sara Arjun as Yalina Jamali—though her casting divided some critics—delivers emotional depth as the daughter of a key Karachi figure.

The supporting cast—Rakesh Bedi, Naveen Kaushik, Manav Gohil, Danish Pandor—round out the ensemble, each contributing to the film’s layered depiction of political and criminal underworlds.

Behind the Casting: Choices, Praise, and Controversy

Much has been said about how the cast came together. Casting director Mukesh Chhabra drew heartfelt thanks from Sara Arjun, who credits him with changing the trajectory of her career—from her first McDonald’s ad to her film debut in Dhurandhar. Their exchange on Instagram, full of gratitude and personal reflection, highlights the human side of casting decisions often lost in industry chatter.

Director Aditya Dhar faced early controversy, with rumors swirling that Dhurandhar was a biopic of Major Mohit Sharma. Dhar publicly denied these claims, clarifying that the film is not based on Sharma’s life and that any future biopic would be made in close consultation with his family. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reviewed the film and found no similarities to the soldier’s story, putting to rest the speculation.

As for the ensemble’s chemistry, critics from Times Now and filmmakers like Madhur Bhandarkar praised the cast’s ability to “look like the characters they portrayed,” bringing realism and authenticity to their roles. Industry peers—Vivek Agnihotri, Ranvir Shorey, Ridhi Dogra—joined the chorus, celebrating the film as a cinematic achievement and expressing anticipation for the sequel.

Dhurandhar 2 and the Road Ahead

The cliffhanger ending and four-minute post-scene in Dhurandhar set up a sequel, Dhurandhar Part 2, slated for release in March 2026. The sequel will see Ranveer Singh’s Hamza/Jaskirat take over Rehman’s throne and dig deeper into his own backstory, with the mission shifting toward bringing down Iqbal, the mastermind behind several terrorist attacks. Most of the main cast is expected to reprise their roles, although Akshaye Khanna’s character may not return, leaving fans eager for new twists.

With Dhurandhar’s box office crossing Rs 190 crore and its cast earning industry-leading paychecks, the franchise is redefining what a star-driven action thriller looks like in modern Bollywood. The film’s global resonance—evident in viral dances at Pakistani weddings and enthusiastic social media buzz—underscores how casting choices and performances can turn a movie into a cultural moment.

In the end, the story of Dhurandhar’s cast is more than a list of names and salaries. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration, vision, and risk-taking—where each actor’s unique presence not only shaped the film’s narrative, but also helped cement its status as a generational blockbuster. The anticipation for Dhurandhar 2 is proof that, sometimes, a well-chosen ensemble can do more than just fill seats; it can make history.