Arjun Rampal Says Dhurandhar Was His Revenge For 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks
Updated on: 23 March, 2026 01:24 PM IST |Shweta Shah
Arjun Rampal in Dhurandhar
In the generation of reels and barely any attention span, Aditya Dhar made everyone sit sincerely through a four-hour long movie. Dhurandhar 2 has been the talk of the town and the "peak detailing" memes are all over the internet.
While Ranveer Singh stole the show, fans couldn`t stop praising Arjun Rampal`s impeccable performance. Inspired by the real-life character Ilyas Kashmiri, he added the menace to an already extraordinary story.
Now, the real-life Major Iqbal shared the real reason for taking on the role and shared a personal story that stayed with him for years, which also helped shape his performance in Dhurandhar.
Arjun Rampal calls Dhurandhar his revenge
The actor was recently honoured at the Hall of Fame Awards held in Mumbai on March 22. He spoke about a spine-chilling incident and recalled the horrifying day of the 26/11 terror attacks in the city.
During the night of the attack, Rampal recalled it was his birthday, and he was about to celebrate it in Taj.
Also Read: Arjun Rampal Felt Horrible Playing The Menacing ISI Major Iqbal In Dhurandhar
Recalling the chilling experience, he shared, "On November 26, 2008, I was in this hotel (Four Seasons, Worli). I`d come to pick up my friends and we were on our way to Taj because we were going there to celebrate my birthday. One guy was getting ready...God bless him. We were at the bar, we ordered a drink and the first bomb went off near Mahim. I heard that sound and my glass shook. We were like `What the hell was that?`"
View this post on Instagram
"Within 10 minutes, our phones were ringing, and everybody said there`s some gang war that has broken out in Colaba, and we were asked not to go there. In 20 to 30 minutes, the whole Four Seasons was cordoned off. We were allowed to stay in the hotel that night and were asked not to go out as it was not safe. On my birthday, I saw the horrors of the 26/11 attacks play out," Arjun added.
Also Read: 5 Arjun Rampal Movies That Showcased His Intense Side
The Dhurandhar star shared that what began as a birthday celebration turned into a night of horror and uncertainty. The explosion and gunshots made it clear that it was far from a normal gang conflict.
"In the morning when I drove back home, I stopped at least three times because I thought I was going to be sick. When Aditya Dhar narrated to me the 26/11 scene, I knew I was going to have my revenge, and that`s what I did with Dhurandhar. All I want to say is `Bharat Mata Ki Jai`," he concluded.
For the uninitiated, Arjun Rampal plays the antagonist, ISI Major Iqbal, in Dhurandhar. He is shown as a cold-blooded mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
ADVERTISEMENT
Dhurandhar 2 or Ustaad Bhagat Singh: Which is your preferred movie?
ADVERTISEMENT
