Is Ranveer Singh playing this real-life spy in Dhurandhar

India Today

10 hours ago

Actor Ranveer Singh has left the internet amazed with his new look in the upcoming spy action-thriller 'Dhurandhar'. Social media users have been speculating about him playing National Security Advisor (NSA), Ajit Doval in the movie. However, there are possibilities that Singh will play a lesser-known, yet crucial, real-life spy in the film.A section of Reddit users claimed that Singh plays the younger version of Doval, while Madhavan portrays the mature version, while narrating the backstory. The NSA chief himself, alongside media reports, have mentioned about him staying in Pakistan as part of a cover-up mission.advertisementIn covert operations carried out by intelligence agencies, there could often be more than one agent involved in espionage. Is Doval the only official who was involved with an espionage-related mission in Pakistan? The visuals from the film depict the time period of 2000s. While Doval's speculated spy missions fall along the timeline of the 1980s-1990s.
Going by the first look, 'Dhurandhar' is possibly the story of an Indian spy, told from the viewpoint of the current NSA chief. Reddit has indicated at Singh's character actually being Sena Medal and Ashoka Chakra recipient Major Mohit Sharma from the elite 1st Para (Special Forces).Is Ranveer Singh playing Major Mohit Sharma?Major Sharma was an Indian Army Officer who was awarded two gallantry decorations earlier in his career. The first was the COAS Commendation card for exemplary counter-terrorism duties during Operation Rakshak. It was followed by a Sena Medal for gallantry after a covert operation in 2005.Major Sharma was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peace-time military decoration, in 2009. The 31-year-old, died during an encounter with terrorists in the Hafruda forest of the Kupwara sector of Jammu and Kashmir.Since Singh is shown in a youthful, bearded appearance which has a close resemblance to Sharma, it is likely that the actor is playing the Para SF officer. Considered as India's most daring military legends, the army Major had infiltrated terror networks in Pakistan under the alias 'Iqbal' and gained the trust of militants, as reported by Zee News.Singh's character in the two-minute, 38-second first look is shown getting into a violent fight with terrorists, blowing up cars in Pakistan. His appearance is similar to a terrorist, implying his disguise to get into enemy territory in order to convince that he is one of them.Further adding weight to the theory, a Reddit post read, "Dhurandhar based on Mohit Sharma who infiltrated Hizbul Mujahideen?" It shared two pictures of Major Sharma with the caption, "Ranveer might be playing Mohit Sharma of Para special forces in Dhurandhar (sic)."These striking similarities hint at the correlation between Sharma's covert operations in Pakistan, as well as Singh's on-screen, larger-than-life spy. The resemblance has also been adapted in the actor embodying the physical appearance of the special forces officer during his undercover mission.
Social media users are convinced that Ranver Singh is playing Major Mohit Sharma from the elite 1st Para SF in 'Dhurandhar'. (Credit: Reddit)
Dhurandhar is not set in the 80s-90sSocial media users also countered the early claims that the Aditya Dhar directorial is set against the backdrop of the 1980s-1990s. Viewers highlighted the smartphones and earphones shown in the video. A sequence particularly showing a flash screen monitor, yet again, indicates a time period around the mid-2000s.A Reddit post read, "Many people on this site mentioned that the movie is set in the 90s, but if you look closely at the poster of Benazir Bhutto, it shows her in her later years and that look is from 2000s. So most likely the movie is set in the 2000s. Benazir is in her 90s and 80s and looked much younger. Also, in the same shot, Sara Arjun is shown with wired earphones from the 2000s and where Ranveer lifts her you can see a smartphone in her hand."advertisementThe glimpse of the political leadership of Pakistan also reflects on the likely influences from historical events in Pakistan. Doval's active engagement in covert operations is mostly attributed to 1980s. Hence, the rock-inspired background music (BGM) of 'Dhurandhar' is indicative of a modern time period.
Social media users have claimed that 'Dhurandhar' might be set against the backdrop of 2000s. (Credit: Reddit)
Time frame of 'Dhurandhar' is debatableWhile emphasising the theme of the film as shown in the first look, a user wrote, "Major Mohit Sharma went undercover for two weeks in a terrorist outfit based in Pakistan as Iftikhaar Bhatt. Ranveer is playing him. Edit: Apparently timelines don't match, so I could be wrong, but this is what I'm seeing all around!"There is ongoing debate about which Indian spy's life story Dhurandhar is actually based on. Uncertainty persists regarding the timeline of the events depicted in the film versus the period when Major Sharma was active in his espionage missions. Although the first look claims the film to be based on real-life events, the production house is yet to officially confirm whether it is based on Doval or Sharma.advertisementThe first look of 'Dhurandhar' opens with Singh sporting long hair, a cigarette dangling from his lips, and a dangerously intense expression. He is seen walking in a dark passageway as a voice-over warns of havoc. Few close-up shots focus on his bloodied face. The actor looks fierce in the violent video backed by pulsating music.Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal also play key roles in the movie. 'Dhurandhar' is presented by Jio Studios, a B62 Studios Production, and written, directed, and produced by Aditya Dhar.Jyoti Deshpande and Lokesh Dhar have co-produced the film. 'Dhurandhar' is scheduled to release on December 5, 2025.- EndsTrending Reel