📌 Key Points
- Mukesh Chhabra cast over 300 roles for ‘Dhurandhar’ and ‘Dhurandhar 2’, shot back-to-back in 2024-25.
- The casting team balanced physical resemblance with performance ability for actors playing real-life-inspired roles.
- Actors portraying figures like Atiq Ahmed and Nawaz Sharif have drawn attention for their striking similarity.
- Hair and makeup artist Preetisheel Singh is credited for the actors’ transformations into their characters.
Casting director Mukesh Chhabra reveals the meticulous process behind finding lookalikes for ‘Dhurandhar 2,’ including actors resembling Atiq Ahmed and Nawaz Sharif. The film’s realistic portrayal is generating buzz, with Chhabra emphasizing the blend of physical resemblance and acting talent.
The Casting Challenges for Dhurandhar 2
Ever since Dhurandhar 2 released in theatres last week, the discussion is as much about Aditya Dhar ‘s ‘detailing’ and Ranveer Singh ’s performance as it is about the support cast. Some of the actors playing characters inspired by real figures are dead ringers for those figures. So much so that there are theories that AI was involved. We spoke to casting director Mukesh Chhabra about what went into casting these roles and his process for the two blockbusters.
Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar 2 were shot back-to-back in 2024-25, with Mukesh and his team casting over 300 roles. While the main cast, including Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, and Rakesh Bedi, has earned acclaim, the supporting cast has been praised for its resemblance to the roles they play. Actors playing roles inspired by ISI financier Javed Khanani, former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, and UP gangster Atiq Ahmed have befuddled audiences with their resemblance.
Balancing Resemblance and Performance
Talking about how he and his team balanced between looking for actors who resembled the characters and finding solid performers, Mukesh says, “It depends on the role. In some roles, I went for physical appearance. But for others, I needed a great performer, and then we could make them look like the character. For instance, with Atif Ahmed, I wanted him to look like Atiq Ahmed. Of course, he also needed to act. So, it had to be a mix and match of both. Then, I knew (Danish Pandor, who plays) Uzair Baloch is a great actor, and you can create his look accordingly. There, we needed a good actor first.”
The veteran casting director also credits the film’s hair and makeup artist, Preetisheel Singh, for the actors’ transformations. “Preetisheel also did a great job with the hair and makeup and how she transformed those actors into the characters,” he says.
The Role of Hair and Makeup Artistry
Dhurandhar stars Ranveer Singh as an Indian spy in Pakistan. The first film, which also starred Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, and Sanjay Dutt, grossed ₹ 1300 crore worldwide. The sequel, which released last week, has already grossed ₹ 850 crore worldwide. The two films also star Rakesh Bedi, Sara Arjun, and Danish Pandore in pivotal roles.
Mukesh Chhabra’s casting choices, combined with expert makeup, have significantly enhanced the realism of ‘Dhurandhar 2.’ The film’s success highlights the importance of casting in bringing stories to life.
