Arjun Rampal recently revealed that the film Dhurandhar became his way of channeling anger and pain from the tragic 2008 Mumbai attacks. Speaking at the Hello! Hall of Fame Awards in Mumbai, the actor shared that reliving those memories helped him perform an intense scene in the movie. Rampal said the experience of witnessing the attacks deeply affected him and stayed with him for years.
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Rampal recalled that on the night of the attacks, he had planned to celebrate his birthday with friends at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, one of the places targeted during the attacks. He had gone to pick up friends from another hotel when he suddenly heard a loud explosion. The sound shook the building and left everyone confused about what had just happened.
Initially, people believed that a gang war had broken out in the city. Within minutes, however, phones began ringing and news of multiple attacks started spreading across Mumbai. Security officials quickly cordoned off the Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, where Rampal was present at the time. Hotel management asked guests to remain inside as the situation outside became increasingly dangerous.
Actor shares how the Mumbai attacks inspired the intense theme of his film Dhurandhar.
Rampal said the horrifying events unfolded throughout the night, turning what was supposed to be his birthday into a traumatic memory. When he finally drove home the next morning, the emotional shock was so intense that he had to stop several times during the journey. The experience left a lasting impact on him.
Years later, when filmmaker Aditya Dhar narrated a key 26/11 scene for the film, Rampal immediately connected with the story. He said the role allowed him to channel the anger and helplessness he had felt that night. According to the actor, performing the scene in Dhurandhar felt like taking a personal form of revenge.
In the film, Rampal plays ISI Major Iqbal, a character portrayed as one of the handlers behind the attack. The cast also includes Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, Ranveer Singh and Rakesh Bedi. The sequel, Dhurandhar The Revenge, is currently performing well at the box office and continues to attract strong audience interest.
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