Arjun Rampal has opened up about how the two-part Dhurandhar saga reflects his personal connection to the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, which coincided with his 36th birthday in 2008. Rampal shared that he and his friends had originally planned to celebrate at the Taj Hotel, but a last-minute change led them elsewhere. It was at this alternate location that he first encountered the chaos of the attacks.
Recalling the night at the Four Seasons Hotel, Rampal explained that as they were preparing for the birthday celebration, the first explosion occurred near Mahim. “The glass on the table shook and rattled, and we thought something had gone terribly wrong. Initially, we assumed it was a gang conflict in Colaba,” Rampal recounted during the Hello! Hall of Fame Awards. The hotel was soon cordoned off, and the management offered him a suite, ensuring safety while keeping everyone inside. “On my birthday, I witnessed the horrors of 26/11 unfold firsthand,” he added.
Rampal admitted the trauma lingered the next day, as he had to stop multiple times while driving home, feeling physically unwell. When director Aditya Dhar narrated the 26/11 scene for the film, Rampal said he knew this was his opportunity for cinematic justice. “That’s what I did with Dhurandhar. And all I want to say is Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” he emphasized.
The films tie closely to these events: the first installment concludes with the 26/11 attacks, while the sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, follows Ranveer Singh’s spy Hamza Ali Mazari on his mission to exact vengeance. Released on March 19, the sequel has already grossed over $93 million globally in its opening weekend and is projected to cross $122 million worldwide. The movie also features R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi, delivering a mix of high-octane action and dramatic storytelling.
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks involved twelve coordinated assaults carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives across Mumbai, resulting in 175 deaths and over 300 injuries. Rampal’s personal proximity to the tragedy adds depth to the revenge narrative depicted in the Dhurandhar films.
