Filmmaker Aditya Dhar issued an official clarification stating that Ranveer Singh’s character in his upcoming spy thriller, Dhurandhar, is not based on decorated Indian Army officer Major Mohit Sharma, putting to rest widespread speculation triggered by the film’s trailer release.
After the trailer of Dhurandhar was released, social media users quickly pointed out similarities between the film’s characters — portrayed by R. Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal — and figures such as Ajit Doval, Rehman Dakait, Chaudhry Aslam Khan, and Ilyas Kashmiri.
Many users suggested Ranveer Singh’s character might be based on Major Mohit Sharma, the Ashoka Chakra awardee who had famously infiltrated Hizbul Mujahideen after going undercover as “Iftikhar Bhatt” in the early 2000s.
After the speculation heightened after media reports claimed Ranveer was portraying the late Army officer, Mohit Sharma’s brother, Madhur Sharma, took to X, questioning the veracity of such claims, and sought clarity from the makers. Responding directly to him, Dhar said the film had no connection to Major Mohit Sharma’s life.
“Hi, sir – our film Dhurandhar is not based on the life of braveheart Major Mohit Sharma AC(P) SM. This is an official clarification. I assure you, if we do make a biopic on Mohit sir in the future, we will do it with full consent and in complete consultation with the family, and in a way that truly honors his sacrifice for the nation,” the director wrote.
Dhurandhar, featuring an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, R. Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal, is slated for worldwide theatrical release on December 5.
