Arjun Rampal Declines to Speak on Torture Scene as Dhurandhar Trailer Divides Viewers
Arjun Rampal avoids discussing his violent Dhurandhar torture scene as the trailer triggers mixed audience reactions.
At the glitzy trailer launch of the upcoming spy thriller Dhurandhar, held at Mumbai's Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) on Tuesday, actor Arjun Rampal skilfully sidestepped questions about his character's graphic torture scene, which has ignited fierce online debate. Playing the menacing ISI Major Iqbal, dubbed the "Angel of Death", Rampal's introduction in the four-minute trailer features a visceral sequence where he pins hooks into a captive's flesh and nearly skins him alive, setting a tone of unrelenting brutality.
When host Rajeev Masand probed Rampal on his initial reaction to director Aditya Dhar's narration of the scene, the actor quipped, "I don’t want to talk about the scene much, because when I talk about a scene, the process, and the director’s mind, I find myself very boring. Toh uske baare me baat nahi karunga (So, I won’t do that)." Instead, he pivoted to praise Dhar, calling the day "special" for the visionary filmmaker's bold project.
The trailer's opening has polarised audiences, with social media erupting in a mix of awe and outrage over its hyper-violent imagery. Fans have hailed Rampal's chilling portrayal as "maniacal" and transformative, with one viewer on X noting, "Arjun Rampal was absolutely maniacal in the Dhurandhar trailer," while others lauded the ensemble's intensity, dubbing the film "unhinged" and a step toward elite global spy thrillers like Sicario or Zero Dark Thirty.
However, the gore has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, who likened the sequence to "ISIS beheadings" and accused Dhar of "crossing limits of cheapness" by glorifying torture for profit, potentially desensitising younger viewers. Actor Ranvir Shorey fired back at Rathee, labelling him "fake" and defending the artistic intent, while netizens urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) not to dilute the raw edge, pleading, "CBFC, don’t mess this up!"
In a light-hearted slip during the event, Rampal inadvertently revealed the name of co-star Ranveer Singh's protagonist—Hamza—despite the trailer withholding it for suspense. Reflecting on the two-year shoot, Rampal shared, "I never saw Ranveer once, but only Hamza," drawing chuckles from the audience and underscoring Singh's immersive method acting. Singh, who portrays the "Wrath of God", an Indian spy infiltrating Pakistani terror networks, has been praised for his rugged, vengeful avatar, a departure from his recent romantic roles in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani. The trailer's delay from November 12—postponed out of respect for victims of the Delhi Red Fort blast and veteran actor Dharmendra's health—only amplified anticipation, with early reactions comparing its blood-soaked action to Animal but elevated by geopolitical intrigue.
Also Read: Ranveer Goes Full Beast Mode in Dhurandhar Trailer; Internet Calls It ‘Animal 2.0’
Dhurandhar, loosely inspired by the Lyari Gang Wars in Pakistan and India's covert intelligence operations, marks Dhar's ambitious follow-up to his 2019 hit Uri: The Surgical Strike. The ensemble cast includes Sanjay Dutt as a grizzled operative, R. Madhavan as spymaster Ajay Sanyal (evoking Ajit Doval), Akshaye Khanna as a shadowy antagonist, and newcomers Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi, with many roles drawn from real-life figures. Produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Lokesh Dhar under YRF Entertainment, the film promises a visceral exploration of cross-border espionage, blending high-stakes action with themes of retribution and infiltration. Scheduled for a solo release on December 5, 2025—now unopposed after shifting from a clash with Prabhas' The Raja Saab—it arrives amid a surge in patriotic thrillers, positioning itself as a potential box-office juggernaut.
The controversy surrounding the torture scene highlights broader discussions on violence in Indian cinema, where films like Gangs of Wasseypur once faced similar scrutiny but are now hailed as classics. Rathee's critique, which prompted him to revisit his past praise for Anurag Kashyap's gore-laden saga, has sparked debates on censorship versus creative freedom, with supporters arguing such depictions are essential for authentic storytelling in the spy genre. Meanwhile, the trailer's technical prowess—sharp editing, pulsating score, and prosthetic-heavy transformations (Madhavan spent 3-4 hours daily in makeup)—has been a consistent highlight, with Singh crediting Dhar for assembling a "transformative" cast. As promotional buzz intensifies, Dhurandhar could redefine boundaries for Bollywood's action landscape, provided the CBFC greenlights its unfiltered vision.
With the film just weeks away, early screenings and fan theories on X are already dissecting plot twists, from Singh's undercover mission to counter Rampal's terror blueprint of "bleeding India with a thousand cuts". Produced on a reported ₹200 crore budget, Dhurandhar benefits from YRF's spy universe lineage, following Ek Tha Tiger and Tiger Zinda Hai, but Dhar's grounded, character-driven approach sets it apart. Rampal's evasion of details only fuels intrigue, leaving audiences eager for the full reveal. As Bollywood navigates post-pandemic recoveries and OTT competition, this high-octane thriller arrives as a timely adrenaline shot, poised to dominate conversations and theatres alike.
Also Read: Ranveer Singh Drops R Madhavan’s Striking ‘Charioteer of Karma’ Poster from Dhurandhar
