Aditya Dhar’s spy action thriller Dhurandhar has been receiving an overwhelming response since its release on December 5. While Akshaye Khanna’s commanding performance has been widely celebrated, actor Naveen Kaushik feels that Ranveer Singh’s contribution to the film has not received the recognition it deserves.
Speaking during a recent conversation with Siddharth Kannan on YouTube, Naveen, who played Donga in the film, reflected on working with both lead actors. He acknowledged that Akshaye has delivered an iconic role but stressed that Ranveer’s performance as a covert operative was equally impactful, albeit in a quieter way.
According to Naveen, Ranveer deliberately suppressed his naturally energetic personality to portray Hamza, an Indian spy operating deep inside enemy territory. He highlighted how difficult it is for an actor known for high energy to remain restrained throughout the film. Naveen pointed to the popular FA9LA song, noting that while everyone around him was dancing, Ranveer stayed still, fully committed to his character.
He added that Ranveer’s role was written to stay in the background, with Akshaye and Danish Sood’s characters leading the command. Naveen felt this was a mark of confidence, as Ranveer never tried to steal the spotlight.
Dhurandhar is the first part of a two-film series and follows Hamza’s mission to infiltrate Lyari’s criminal and political underworld. The film also draws from real-life geopolitical events, including the IC-814 hijacking and the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
