The box-office juggernaut Dhurandhar didn't just surprise audiences with its intense narrative; its casting process and on-set improvisations have become the talk of Indian cinema. Casting director Mukesh Chhabra spent 18 months assembling the ensemble, auditioned 1,300 girls for the female lead, and witnessed Akshaye Khanna create one of 2025's most viral movie moments in a single, unrehearsed take.

The Viral Dance That Wasn't Planned

Perhaps the film's biggest surprise came from Akshaye Khanna's entry in the song FA9LA. Choreographer Vijay Ganguly told Mid-Day that Khanna was originally supposed to simply walk through dancers and sit on a throne. Instead, the actor asked director Aditya Dhar if he could dance. "Aditya said, 'whatever you feel like doing,'" co-star Danish Pandor recalled to Filmygyan. Khanna then delivered the now-iconic sequence in one take, with no rehearsals. The improvisation became even more impressive given that Khanna was battling high-altitude sickness in Ladakh and required an oxygen cylinder between shots.

Gaurav Gera's transformation into Mohammad Aalam left audiences unable to recognise the actor known for his comic roles. Makeup artist Preetisheel Singh shared behind-the-scenes footage on Instagram showing the extensive process: "We etched a lifetime into his features: softened lines, a natural salt-white beard, textured ageing, hair cropped to character," she wrote.

The Exhaustive Search and Stark Pay Disparities

Chhabra and Dhar initially considered actors from OTT platforms before deciding to "make it bigger" with established stars. The casting director revealed they spent two to four hours daily discussing whether Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, or Khanna would be right for their roles. For the female lead, they auditioned 1,300 girls before selecting newcomer Sara Arjun, whom Dhar called "just brilliant, the best of all".

The reported salaries revealed a striking disparity: Ranveer Singh earned ₹50 crore while Khanna, whose performance many consider scene-stealing, received only ₹2.5 crore, a 1,900% difference. R Madhavan earned ₹9 crore, Sanjay Dutt ₹10 crore, and Sara Arjun ₹1 crore.

When questioned about accusations that Dhurandhar promotes propaganda, Chhabra told The Free Press Journal: "I see cinema as cinema. I just follow my instinct". He added that he focuses solely on actors, the film, and the director, dismissing outside opinions. The film has earned over ₹250 crore domestically since its December 5 release, with Dhurandhar: Part 2 scheduled for March 19, 2026.