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Dhurandhar casting explained: Here's who plays which real-life character

Updated On: 05 December, 2025 07:28 PM IST | Amarylisa Gonsalves

As Dhurandhar released today, the film has sparked curiosity among the viewers about the characters and the story. Interestingly, while most characters from the film is based on a real-life person, others draw heavy inspiration from others. Here's who plays what in Dhurandhar.

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As Dhurandhar released today, the film has sparked curiosity among the viewers about the characters and the story. Interestingly, while most characters from the film is based on a real-life person, others draw heavy inspiration from others. Here's who plays what in Dhurandhar.

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As Dhurandhar released today, the film has sparked curiosity among the viewers about the characters and the story. Interestingly, while most characters from the film is based on a real-life person, others draw heavy inspiration from others. Here's who plays what in Dhurandhar.
<p>The film's story is reportedly inspired by Operation Lyari, a major gang war that took place in the Lyari area of Karachi, Pakistan. The region was once a hub of drug trafficking and crime, where gangs have been gaining control since the 1960s.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

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The film's story is reportedly inspired by Operation Lyari, a major gang war that took place in the Lyari area of Karachi, Pakistan. The region was once a hub of drug trafficking and crime, where gangs have been gaining control since the 1960s.

 

<p>Ranveer Singh plays the role of an Indian spy, Hamza Ali Mazari/Jaskirat Singh, who is sent to Pakistan.</p>

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Ranveer Singh plays the role of an Indian spy, Hamza Ali Mazari/Jaskirat Singh, who is sent to Pakistan.

<p>Actor Dalvinder Saini appears in a brief role playing Ajmal Kasab.</p>

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Actor Dalvinder Saini appears in a brief role playing Ajmal Kasab.

<p>Rakesh Bedi is seen Jameel Jamali, a character based on Nabil Gabol, a Pakistani politician who has been a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan.</p>

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Rakesh Bedi is seen Jameel Jamali, a character based on Nabil Gabol, a Pakistani politician who has been a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan.

<p>Akshaye Khanna plays the notorious gangster Rehman Dacoit, also known as the Robin Hood of Lyari.&nbsp;</p>

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Akshaye Khanna plays the notorious gangster Rehman Dacoit, also known as the Robin Hood of Lyari. 

<p>Sanjay Dutt plays the role of Pakistan's renowned encounter specialist, Chaudhry Aslam Khan, who formed the Lyari Task Force.</p>

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Sanjay Dutt plays the role of Pakistan's renowned encounter specialist, Chaudhry Aslam Khan, who formed the Lyari Task Force.

<p>R. Madhavan is seen portraying the role Ajay Sanyal in the film, a character reportedly inspired by India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.</p>

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R. Madhavan is seen portraying the role Ajay Sanyal in the film, a character reportedly inspired by India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

<p>Actor Danish Pandor is seen playing the role of Uzair Baloch, a gangster and crime lord.</p>

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Actor Danish Pandor is seen playing the role of Uzair Baloch, a gangster and crime lord.

<p>Arjun Rampal is playing a character inspired by terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri, who was belived to be a senior commander of Al-Qaeda.</p>

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Arjun Rampal is playing a character inspired by terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri, who was belived to be a senior commander of Al-Qaeda.

<p>Danish Iqbal plays the role of Dawood Ibrahim aka Bade Sahab in the film. Dawood is a gangster, mob boss, drug lord and narcoterrorist. He started the organised crime syndicate D-Company, which he founded in Mumbai in the 1970s.</p>

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Danish Iqbal plays the role of Dawood Ibrahim aka Bade Sahab in the film. Dawood is a gangster, mob boss, drug lord and narcoterrorist. He started the organised crime syndicate D-Company, which he founded in Mumbai in the 1970s.

<p>Salim Sidiqui plays Atif Ahmed, inspired by Atiq Ahmed or Atique Ahmed, a notorious Indian gangster turned Politician and history-sheeter.&nbsp;</p>

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Salim Sidiqui plays Atif Ahmed, inspired by Atiq Ahmed or Atique Ahmed, a notorious Indian gangster turned Politician and history-sheeter. 

<p>Aditya Uppal plays Omar Shahid Hamid, a Pakistani writer, a serving police officer of the Police Service of Pakistan. He worked in the counter terrorism department of the Sindh police as a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).</p>

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Aditya Uppal plays Omar Shahid Hamid, a Pakistani writer, a serving police officer of the Police Service of Pakistan. He worked in the counter terrorism department of the Sindh police as a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

<p>Vivek Sinha portrays Zahoor Mistry (alias Zahid Akhund) was a Pakistani terrorist and one of the five hijackers of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 in 1999.&nbsp;</p>

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Vivek Sinha portrays Zahoor Mistry (alias Zahid Akhund) was a Pakistani terrorist and one of the five hijackers of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 in 1999. 

<p>Actor Mashhoor Amrohi played the role of Nawab Shafiq, a character inspired by former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.</p>

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Actor Mashhoor Amrohi played the role of Nawab Shafiq, a character inspired by former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

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