Akshaye Khanna and Arjun Rampal broke down after filming Dhurandhar’s 26/11 sequence; R Madhavan recalls emotional aftermath

Dhurandhar began as one of the most anticipated thrillers of the year, but it soon transformed into a theatrical juggernaut. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the espionage drama released on December 5, 2025, and completed a remarkable 75-day run in cinemas on February 17, setting new box-office benchmarks.

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The film’s impact has only intensified curiosity around its sequel, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, featuring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and Sara Arjun.

Recreating a Night That Changed India

Among the film’s most powerful moments was a sequence recreating the horrors of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The set reportedly carried an intense emotional charge as the cast and crew revisited one of the darkest chapters in recent Indian history.

Madhavan later reflected that it was during the filming of this sequence that he truly understood the magnitude of what they were creating. The atmosphere, he said, was heavy with memory and responsibility.

When the Cameras Stopped Rolling

In a conversation with Sonia Shenoy on YouTube, Madhavan described what unfolded once the scene wrapped. Akshaye Khanna and Arjun Rampal, portraying Pakistani characters, had just completed a disturbing portion where their characters celebrated the attack. What followed was far from performance.

Madhavan said, "After that scene ended, they broke down completely. They cried uncontrollably. It wasn't just acting for them. They have lived through those times. They have seen real incidents like that. It brought back memories. That's when I realised this was a very special film."

The moment underscored how deeply the narrative resonated beyond scripted lines and choreographed frames.

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The Road to Dhurandhar 2

While the first installment released only in Hindi, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is set for a pan-India release on March 19 in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. Written and directed by Aditya Dhar and produced by Aditya Dhar, Jyoti Deshpande, and Lokesh Dhar, the sequel aims to expand the world that has already captivated audiences nationwide.

With the release date approaching, anticipation continues to surge - and if the emotional depth of the first film is any indication, the journey is far from over.