After days of jamming to the remake of Jogi and hyping Dhurandhar‘s teaser, the creators have finally dropped the film’s trailer. Written, directed, and co-produced by Aditya Dhar, the trailer of Dhurandhar has created a buzz among fans. The film stars Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and Sara Arjun in lead roles. Even though the trailer amazed everyone, the line saying, “Inspired by incredible true events”, left the audience more curious than ever. What is the true story behind Dhurandhar? Which real-life people are these characters hinting at?

With the speculation rising and theories flooding social media, it’s time to unpack the real story that inspired the making of Dhurandhar.

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Dhurandhar movie: The real story

The trailer opens with Arjun Rampal’s character recounting the time when he was six years old. It was 1971, the year when India and Pakistan fought a gruesome 13-day war. Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) sought to free itself from Pakistan’s rule and become an independent nation. In the trailer, Rampal recalls Zia-Ul-Haq’s words: “Bleed India with a thousand cuts.” This statement stayed with Rampal’s character in the movie. The scene sets the movie’s momentum, which dives into the brutality of this war.

Dhurandhar seems to portray the covert operations and gang rivalries of that time to build a story that explores tensions between India and Pakistan. As reported by News18, the film also draws on Operation Lyari. The mission relates to a major Pakistani crackdown launched to break up Karachi’s powerful gangsters. With this gripping plot and crazy action sequences, Dhurandhar promises an engaging watch. But do you know which real-life person each character in Dhurandhar is based on?

From real life to the screen: The cast of Dhurandhar

The film portrays Ranveer Singh as Wrath of God, but his character’s name has not been revealed yet. The film presents him as an Indian undercover agent in Pakistan. Ranveer’s lethal look in the movie reflects one of his most intense roles to date. His performance in the trailer reveals a mix of undercover grit and the emotional weight of his character. Dhurandhar also features Arjun Rampal as the Angel of Death, Major Iqbal, an ISI agent. His character is loosely based on Ilyas Kashmiri. In the trailer, Rampal is seen torturing an Indian soldier by piercing his body with hooks. That scene is sure to send a shiver down your spine.

The film portrays R Madhavan as the Charioteer of Karma, Ajay Sanyal, a member of the Indian intelligence agency. From his look since the teaser release, fans were quick to realise he is playing Ajit Doval, the National Security Advisor of India. The trailer also reveals Akshaye Khanna as the Apex Predator, Rehman Dakait. After giving a powerful performance in Chhaava, the actor again promises a gripping show in Dhurandhar. And lastly, the film portrays Sanjay Dutt as The Jinn, SP Chaudhary Aslam. His fierce attire and dialogue officially highlight his incredible comeback to cinema.

Dhurandhar is set to release in theatres on December 5, 2025. Watch the film’s trailer here.

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