Arjun Rampal recalls witnessing 26/11 horror on his birthday, calls Dhurandhar his ‘revenge’

Arjun Rampal recalls witnessing 26/11 horror on his birthday, calls Dhurandhar his ‘revenge’

• Arjun Rampal drew from 26/11 trauma for his role in Dhurandhar
• Rampal was in Mumbai during the 2008 terror attacks
• He portrays ISI Major Iqbal, a handler in the film's attack scene

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Actor Arjun Rampal recently opened up about a deeply personal and traumatic experience from the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, revealing how it shaped his performance in Dhurandhar. The actor described the film as his way of channeling emotions and seeking “revenge” for what he witnessed during the tragic night of 26/11.

Speaking at Hello! Hall of Fame Awards held in Mumbai on Sunday (March 22), Rampal recalled that he was in Mumbai on the night of the attacks, which also happened to be his birthday.

Recounting the chilling experience, he said, "On November 26, 2008, I was in this hotel (Four Seasons, Worli). I'd come to pick up my friends and we were on our way to Taj because we were going there to celebrate my birthday. One guy was getting ready...God bless him. We were at the bar, we ordered a drink and the first bomb went off near Mahim. I heard that sound and my glass shook. We were like 'What the hell was that?'"

Rampal said he was initially told it was the result of a gang war. He added, "In 10 minutes, our phones were ringing and everybody said there was some gang war that had broken out in Colaba. In 20-30 minutes, the whole of Four Seasons (hotel) was cordoned off. Adarsh Jatia (Managing Director, Provenance Land, owner of Four Seasons Hotel) very gracefully gave me a suite and said 'you could stay here for the night, but we can't let anybody go out, it's not safe'. And on my birthday, I saw the horrors of 26/11 play out."

Rampal said Dhurandhar became his "revenge" for what he had experienced that day. He said, "In the morning when I drove back home, I had to stop at least three times because I thought I was going to be sick. When Aditya Dhar narrated to me the 26/11 scene, I knew I was going to have my revenge, and that's what I did with Dhurandhar. And all I want to say is Bharat Mata Ki Jai."

Also read: Dhurandhar 2 BTS: Mumbai’s Ballard Estate turns into Pakistan’s Lyari for major scenes

Arjun portrays ISI Major Iqbal in the movie. Iqbal, who is portrayed as one of the primary handlers behind the attack, is shown dancing, rejoicing, and having a good time while conversing with the terrorists at the hotel in a pivotal moment in the first section.