Ranveer Singh Cast In Dhurandhar Because Producers Wanted Performers

The landscape of Indian cinema shifted significantly when director Aditya Dhar unleashed his ambitious two-part spy action thriller. The first film, released on December 5, 2025, grossed over ₹1,300 crore globally, while its sequel, Dhurandhar 2, pushed the franchise’s combined worldwide earnings past ₹2,700 crore, according to reporting by various outlets.

Budget Realities and the Decision to Back Performers Over Stars

Behind the historic box-office returns lay an intense production journey that exceeded initial financial projections multiple times. Jyoti Deshpande, co-producer of the films and head of Jio Studios, explained in an interview with Outlook Business that the scale of the production required constant reinvention to keep the ambitious vision alive.

“Dhurandhar is a project that overran multiple times, and I indulged it every time. I reinvented it. You know, somehow one part became two parts, but we found a way.”

Jyoti Deshpande, co-producer and Jio Studios head

Because the project was exceptionally expensive to mount, the creative and production teams faced strict financial constraints from day one. Every rupee spent had to be visible on screen, leaving no room for safe creative choices. Hiring high-priced leading actors would have rendered the financial model unviable immediately.

“There were no safe things we could do because it was already an expensive film to shoot. Now, if we added expensive actors as well, it was going to render the film unviable on day one. So we wanted performers rather than the so-called stars.”

Jyoti Deshpande, co-producer and Jio Studios head

Why Ranveer Singh Was Cast as Hamza Ali Mazari and Jaskirat Singh Rangi

The role of the undercover operative—portrayed through the dual identities of Hamza Ali Mazari and Jaskirat Singh Rangi—demanded an actor capable of deep physical and emotional transformation. Deshpande noted that her prior working relationship with Ranveer Singh during his earlier career milestones informed her confidence in his abilities.

“I had worked with Ranveer on Ram-Leela and Bajirao Mastani, when he wasn’t this big. So I had worked with him when he was starting out, and I still believe those are some of my favorite films of Ranveer Singh. I find him an absolutely outstanding actor who gives it his all. He transforms into a character.”

Jyoti Deshpande, co-producer and Jio Studios head

Rather than relying on pre-existing persona, Singh’s tendency to completely submerge his identity into historical or fictional figures proved vital for the gritty narrative.

“I love that about him, the fact that he is not Ranveer Singh in that film. When he has to become Bajirao, he becomes Bajirao. When he has to become Khilji, he becomes Khilji. When he has to become the Gully Boy, he becomes the Gully Boy. So he transforms; he doesn’t play Ranveer Singh.”

Jyoti Deshpande, co-producer and Jio Studios head

Cast Ensemble and Production Commitment Across the Board

Beyond the lead role, the franchise brought together a prominent ensemble cast featuring Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun, alongside Gaurav Gera and Danish Pandor in various installments.

Deshpande credited the entire technical and creative team—highlighting cinematography, sound design, and editing departments alongside the director and lead actor—for committing fully to the high-risk production without reservation, driven by mad conviction and a shared belief in the project’s unique purpose.

“Everyone was involved. Aditya Dhar, to begin with. And Ranveer Singh, the actor, who went all in and did nothing else for the duration of the film. Every technician who was part of that film, whether it’s cinematography, sound design, or editing, everyone was all in. We all knew we were making something that had so much purpose, so much heart, that had never been seen before, that had never been done before.”

Jyoti Deshpande, co-producer and Jio Studios head