Dhurandhar Real Story | The Spies Who Inspired the Film — Explained 2026
When people search “Dhurandhar biography,” they are looking for the real human story behind one of Bollywood’s biggest franchises. Dhurandhar: The Revenge (released 19 March 2026, directed by Aditya Dhar, starring Ranveer Singh) crossed ₹1,000 crore worldwide in 7 days and sparked a national conversation about India’s real intelligence operatives.
Here is everything you need to know — about the film, its controversial inspirations, and the real spies whose stories echo through it.
What Is Dhurandhar? The Film Franchise
Dhurandhar is a Bollywood spy action-thriller franchise directed by Aditya Dhar.
Dhurandhar (2025) — the first film — became the highest-grossing Hindi film in India in 2025, earning ₹1,340 crore worldwide. It depicted an Indian intelligence agent infiltrating criminal networks in Karachi, avenging the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Dhurandhar: The Revenge (2026) — the sequel — released 19 March 2026 and matched Pushpa 2 as the fastest Indian film to ₹1,000 crore (in 7 days). The franchise combined box office has exceeded ₹2,000 crore — a historic milestone for Hindi cinema.
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal
Director/Writer: Aditya Dhar
Is Dhurandhar Based on a Real Person?
Director Aditya Dhar has officially stated the film is a fictional story — not a biopic of any real individual. The character Ranveer Singh plays is named Jaskirat Singh Rangi (code name “Hamza Ali Mazari”).
However, the film draws thematic and operational parallels to the stories of multiple real Indian intelligence operatives — and those real stories are what people search for when they look up “Dhurandhar biography.”
The Real Spies Behind the Story
1. Ravindra Kaushik — “The Black Tiger”
The closest real-life parallel to Dhurandhar’s undercover story is Ravindra Kaushik — a RAW spy from Rajasthan who lived undercover in Pakistan for 8 years under the alias Nabi Ahmed Shakir. He:
- Enrolled at Karachi University and completed an LLB
- Joined the Pakistani Army as a Major in the Military Accounts Department
- Relayed critical intelligence to India including nuclear information from Kahuta
- Was betrayed by a low-level operative in 1983, sentenced to life imprisonment
- Died in a Pakistani jail in 2001 — forgotten, officially unacknowledged by India
PM Indira Gandhi gave him the codename “The Black Tiger.”
Read Ravindra Kaushik’s full biography →
2. Major Mohit Sharma — Ashok Chakra (Posthumous)
Major Mohit Sharma of 1 Para Special Forces infiltrated Hizbul Mujahideen under the alias “Iftikhar Bhatt” — growing a beard and beard, fabricating a false identity, and eliminating two top commanders (Abu Torara and Abu Sabzar).
He was later martyred on 21 March 2009 in Kupwara, Kashmir, while rescuing injured soldiers under fire — and awarded the Ashok Chakra (Posthumous), India’s highest peacetime military honour.
His family filed a Delhi High Court petition alleging the Dhurandhar film unauthorisedly portrayed his son’s story. Aditya Dhar denied this officially.
Read Major Mohit Sharma’s full biography →
3. NSA Ajit Doval — Real-Life Undercover Operations
India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has his own extraordinary real-life spy career — including:
- Living undercover in Pakistan for 6+ years as an IPS intelligence officer
- Entering the Golden Temple as an ISI agent in 1988 to gather intelligence for Operation Black Thunder
Why Was the Film Controversial?
Banned countries: Dhurandhar: The Revenge was banned in Pakistan and several GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait) due to its sensitive portrayal of Pakistani political and military figures.
Legal case: Major Mohit Sharma’s family filed a petition in the Delhi High Court alleging the film used their son’s story without permission. Director Aditya Dhar promised to consult the family if a proper biopic were ever made.
Real vs. fictional debate: The film’s undercover-agent-in-Pakistan premise so closely mirrors Ravindra Kaushik’s real mission that the story went viral — bringing long-overdue national attention to a spy India had officially forgotten.
Box Office Milestones
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| Dhurandhar (2025) | ₹1,340 crore worldwide — highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025 |
| Dhurandhar: The Revenge — Day 1 | ₹130+ crore India net (record opening) |
| Day 7 | ₹1,000 crore worldwide (tied fastest with Pushpa 2) |
| Global opening weekend | $81–82 million — 2nd biggest for any Indian film |
| Franchise total | ₹2,000+ crore combined |
FAQ
Is Dhurandhar based on a true story?
Director Aditya Dhar says it is a fictional story. However, the film draws thematic parallels to real RAW operations, particularly those of Ravindra Kaushik (the Black Tiger) and Major Mohit Sharma — whose families and the public widely consider the inspiration.
Who are the real spies behind Dhurandhar?
The most discussed real inspirations are Ravindra Kaushik (lived undercover in Pakistan 8 years as a Pakistani Army Major) and Major Mohit Sharma (infiltrated Hizbul Mujahideen). NSA Ajit Doval’s own undercover career is also frequently mentioned.
How much has Dhurandhar: The Revenge collected?
As of Day 7 (26 March 2026): ₹1,000+ crore worldwide — among the fastest Indian films to this milestone.
Why was Dhurandhar banned in the Middle East?
The film was banned in GCC countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait for its sensitive portrayal of Pakistani political and military figures.
Also Read:
– Ravindra Kaushik Biography — The Black Tiger →
– Major Mohit Sharma Biography in Hindi →
– Aditya Dhar Biography →
– Ranveer Singh Biography →