Arjun Rampal Felt “Horrible” On Playing 26/11 Mastermind in ‘Dhurandhar’

Arjun Rampal is set to return as the primary antagonist in the sequel, ‘Dhurandhar 2’, releasing on March 19, 2026.

While Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna have been dominating headlines for their performances in Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller Dhurandhar, Arjun Rampal has emerged as the film’s “chilling soul.” Rampal opened up about the psychological discomfort of playing Major Iqbal, a brutal ISI mastermind based on real-life terror handlers.

The Burden of the “Angel of Death”

Arjun Rampal, who shed his “glam” persona for a gritty, menacing look, admitted that he struggled with the morality of his character, particularly during scenes depicting the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Eager to Exit: “I wanted to get out of the character as soon as I could,” Rampal shared. “To see the event is one thing, but to see what happened behind the scenes to make those events take place… it makes you feel sick.”

Patriotic Conflict: The actor noted the irony of playing a character who vows to “bleed India with a thousand cuts” while being a proud Indian himself. “I felt horrible when you’re doing it because you love your country so much, but I guess that’s what an actor’s job is—you just dive into it.”

The “Red Screen” Scene: A Career Hardest

One of the most talked-about moments in Dhurandhar is the “Red Screen” sequence, where director Aditya Dhar pauses the fictional narrative to display actual transcripts of phone conversations between 26/11 terrorists and their handlers.

Rampal on the Sequence: “The most difficult scene of my life.⁶ Imagine being a Mumbaikar and having to cheer during the 26/11 attacks—even if it’s just acting.⁷ The emotional toll is unimaginable.”

Critics have lauded Rampal’s “controlled intensity” and his ability to convey terror through silence and body language rather than loud, stereotypical villain tropes.

‘Dhurandhar 2’ and the Final Showdown

The film concludes on a tense cliffhanger, establishing Major Iqbal as the ultimate “Bade Sahab” whom Ranveer Singh’s character, Hamza, must hunt down.