You know that warm, fuzzy feeling when an old friend suddenly shows up looking sharper than ever and steals the show? That’s exactly what’s happening in theatres right now with Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar franchise.
While Ranveer Singh is busy smashing box-office records and Aditya Dhar is being hailed for his gripping spy-thriller vision, something quieter, and far more heartwarming is taking place in the background. Several fine actors who had been gently pushed to the margins of mainstream Hindi cinema are suddenly shining brighter than they have in years.
Let’s be honest. Bollywood can be unkind to talent that doesn’t fit the current flavour. Some actors become so strongly associated with television or comic roles, or even typecast for that matter, that big-screen directors stop seeing their range. Others deliver solid work but somehow slip out of the spotlight.
RAKESH BEDI – THE QUIET MENACE
Take Rakesh Bedi, for instance. For years, we’ve all loved him as that delightfully bumbling uncle – whether it was in Shrimaan Shrimati, Yes Boss, or as the iconic Jiju in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain. That deadpan comic timing of his made him a staple in every Indian living room.
But watch him in Dhurandhar and you’ll do a double take. He steps into the role of Jameel Jamali, a slippery Pakistani politician, and suddenly the laughs are replaced by something far more unsettling. He’s so convincingly scheming and layered that even Ranveer Singh apparently joked that half the film’s success belongs to “Rakesh Ji.”
Bedi himself has said this is easily one of the top three roles of his entire career. The same man who once had us rolling with laughter is now making audiences squirm in their seats, and honestly, we can’t stop talking about him as the OG Dhurandhar.
And, it has now been proved that playing Jameel Jamali is, without doubt, one of the trickiest roles of Rakesh Bedi’s career.
ARJUN RAMPAL – AN ICY BANG
Then there’s Arjun Rampal. Remember the guy who used to smoulder on screen in films like Om Shanti Om and Raajneeti? For a while, it felt like the big, juicy roles had stopped coming his way. And, if you went hunting for his filmography, things went a bit quiet, just a handful of roles here and there, some in Telugu cinema, a cameo or two.
But Arjun has always been the kind of actor who picks his roles carefully rather than chasing every shiny offer. And boy, did he place his bet on the right horse this time. In Dhurandhar, he’s back with a bang – or should we say, a very quiet, very icy bang.
As Major Iqbal, the sharp and calculating ISI officer, Rampal ditches his usual leading-man glamour for a thick beard and an even thicker aura of menace. He doesn’t need to shout or chew the scenery; he just stands there, calm and cold, and somehow makes your skin crawl in the best possible way. The performance stays long after you leave the theatre, and longer after such films end their theatrical journey.
What’s lovely is how he brings real weight to the moral greyness of the character – a man reportedly inspired by actual figures from the world of terror networks. No dramatic speeches, no over-the-top moments. Just quiet intensity that reminds you why Arjun Rampal was always more than just a handsome face. He’s still got it, and Dhurandhar has given him the perfect stage to prove it again.
After a lean patch, the film, and its raging sequel, has given him the perfect stage to prove he’s still very much in the game, and playing it smarter than ever.
GAURAV GERA – ‘SHOP-KEEPER’ to SHOPKEEPER
Forever etched in our hearts as the sweet, earnest Nandu from Jassi Jassi Koi Nahin, Gaurav Gera did something completely unexpected.
Who would have thought the man who once made us laugh with his light-hearted antics would pull off something so completely different? In Dhurandhar, he plays Mohammad Aalam, a sharp undercover handler from Bareilly, running his operations from a humble little juice shop in Lyari.
The comedian we knew for his funny one-liners suddenly brings real gravitas and street-smart realism to the screen. It’s the kind of supporting performance that makes you sit up and think, “Wait is that really him?”
Watch Gera’s Shopkeeper meme here:
When he first shares screen space with Ranveer Singh’s Hamza, many in the audience had no clue who the actor was. The casting was so spot-on that bets were quietly placed on who this fresh face might be. It was only much later, after the film ended and people started Googling the cast, that jaws dropped. “That was Gaurav Gera?!”
And in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, when Aalam makes the ultimate sacrifice, it hits hard. The theatre went pin-drop silent. It wasn’t just Hamza mourning him over a cup of tea, it felt like the entire audience (and millions watching across the country) felt the loss. That small but beautifully written role left a lasting mark.
Gaurav Gera didn’t just prove he could do serious drama; he showed he could make you care deeply in just a few powerful scenes. Years from now, when people talk about Dhurandhar, Aalam will still be remembered, and so will the quiet comeback of Gaurav Gera.
MANAV GOHIL – THE UNDERDOG
Manav Gohil, the actor we’ve long associated with his warm, dependable presence in daily soaps like Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and cop shows like C.I.D., has always been the guy who made you feel safe and comforted on screen.
Whether he was playing the loving husband, the reliable friend, or the straightforward police officer, there was always something gentle and approachable about his performances.
But in Dhurandhar, he does something refreshingly different.
As Sushant Bansal, a senior Intelligence Bureau officer, Manav brings a steely authority that feels miles away from the softer characters we’re used to seeing him play. Gone is the familiar warmth and easy smile. In its place is a composed, no-nonsense intensity – the kind that commands respect the moment he walks into a room.
What’s impressive is how natural it feels. There’s no overacting or dramatic flair. He simply slips into the role with a lived-in ease that makes you believe he’s been handling high-level intelligence operations for years.
SAUMYA TANDON, SUVINDER VICKY
And let’s not forget Saumya Tandon, the actor who brought endless laughter into our living rooms as the stylish, quick-witted Anita Bhabhi in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!.
For years, she was synonymous with comedy – that elegant, confident “gori mem” who could deliver punchlines with perfect timing and make Monday evenings feel lighter.
Before that, she had made her Bollywood debut in Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met as Roop Dhillon (Kareena’s sister), hosted popular shows like Dance India Dance and Bournvita Quiz Contest, and even dipped into Punjabi cinema.
So when news broke that she was joining Dhurandhar, most people did a double take. No one quite saw this coming – that the beloved sitcom queen would play Ulfat, the wife of a powerful and dangerous underworld figure, Rehman Dakait (brilliantly portrayed by Akshaye Khanna).
Opposite a seasoned, intense actor like Akshaye in such a gritty, high-stakes spy thriller? It felt like a leap no one had bet on.
Suvinder Vicky already respected for his intense work in Punjabi cinema and shows like Kohrra, Paatal Lok, was like the unexpected gift you get showered on with on your birthday.
He plays Brigadier Jahangir, Major Iqbal’s father in Dhurandhar: The Revenge. His presence reminds us that talent from regional and parallel spaces can enrich the mainstream when given the right platform.
THE DHURANHDAR EFFECT
What makes the Dhurandhar franchise special is that it didn’t just cast these actors for novelty. Director Aditya Dhar and his team gave them roles with flesh, purpose, and moral shading.
At the end of the day, Dhurandhar is more than just a slick spy thriller about undercover missions and national security. It’s also a quiet, feel-good story about second chances in Bollywood.
It shows that talent doesn’t come with an expiry date. Sometimes all an actor needs is the right script, the right director, and one big platform to remind everyone what they were always capable of.
