While R. Madhavan is receiving career-best reviews for his portrayal of the calm yet lethal Ajay Sanyal (Director of IB), Chhabra confirmed that the path to his casting was paved with rejections from several Bollywood A-listers.
The "Ajay Sanyal" Struggle: Why A-Listers Said No 🚫
The role of Ajay Sanyal, inspired by the strategic brilliance of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, is the "puppet master" of the Dhurandhar universe. However, filling those shoes was Mukesh Chhabra's biggest challenge.
The "Ensemble" Fear: Chhabra revealed that several top-tier actors rejected the role because they were hesitant to be part of an ensemble cast. In an industry often driven by solo-hero projects, many felt the screen time would be diluted alongside Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal.
The Action Trap: Others passed on the role because the character has "zero action." Ajay Sanyal dominates through dialogue and intellect rather than fists, a nuance many "mass" heroes weren't ready to gamble on.
The "Regret" Calls: Mukesh cheekily noted that since the film’s massive success, many of those same actors have reached out to him. "Now that the film is a ₹1,000 crore phenomenon, those who said 'no' are calling me with a lot of regret," Chhabra shared.
Madhavan: The "Day One" Certainty 🎯
In sharp contrast to the rejections, R. Madhavan’s casting was one of the quickest in the film's two-year pre-production.
The "Rang De Basanti" Connection: Mukesh has known Madhavan since their days on the 2006 classic. He called Madhavan while the actor was shooting De De Pyaar De 2 and told him: "Trust me, I only need 10–12 days of your time."
The Instant 'Yes': Madhavan heard the vision and agreed almost immediately.
The "Authority" Factor: Chhabra explained why Madhavan was the only choice: "He is extremely well-spoken in real life. He never loses his temper. That’s exactly what we needed—a man who convinces through calm conversation, not aggression."
The Akshaye Khanna "Pagal Ho" Reaction 🤯
Madhavan wasn't the only one who required some convincing. Chhabra also shared the hilarious story of casting Akshaye Khanna as the fan-favorite Rehman Dakait:
The Scolding: When Mukesh first called Akshaye, the actor’s immediate response was: "Pagal ho gaya hai kya? (Have you gone crazy?)"
The 4-Hour Narration: It took a four-hour deep-dive narration with director Aditya Dhar (filled with lots of smoking and silence) for Akshaye to finally break the tension with: "F**k, it’s very good. Bada maza aayega."
By the Numbers: The Casting Scale
Time Taken: 2 Years
Assistants involved: 8
Total Auditions: 300+ actors for various roles
Realism Check: Local residents from Lyari, Pakistan, were cast as background actors in Bangkok to ensure the "Karachi vibe" was 100% authentic.
SantaBanta Verdict:
The success of Dhurandhar 2 is a massive win for the "Casting Director" as a craft. By choosing the right actors rather than just the biggest names, Mukesh Chhabra and Aditya Dhar have proven that a well-cast ensemble is more powerful than any solo superstar.
