Aditya Dhar’s film Dhurandhar sparked an extensive internet debate, with fans deconstructing a significant narrative thread involving a mysterious individual known only as “Bade Sahab”.
Who Is Bade Sahab?
The figure is often mentioned throughout the film by Sanjay Dutt’s SP Chaudhary Aslam, but it is never completely disclosed on screen—a decision that has spurred speculation on social media sites.
Online Speculation and Real-Life Links
Soon after the film’s release, Reddit threads and posts on X began to explore the potential real-life inspirations for “Bade Sahab”.
Several people have discussed the historical and geopolitical connections in Dhurandhar, claiming that the nameless character is linked to infamous individuals such as Dawood Ibrahim or Masood Azhar, while others have proposed even more expansive hypotheses.
Dawood Ibrahim Theory
The notion gained popularity when viewers realised that Dawood Ibrahim is portrayed by Danish Iqbal, as mentioned in Wikipedia’s cast list and the film’s end credits. This discovery led many to conclude that the director purposefully included clues within the film while avoiding explicit confirmation.
Is This Dhurandhar Easter Egg Hinting at Bade Sahab’s Identity?
— BollyGupp (@BollyGup) December 11, 2025
Credit – Reddit BBNG post#Dhurandar #Dhurandhar2 pic.twitter.com/VPPV30n2X3
Masood Azhar Angle in Dhurandhar
One popular idea relates the character to Masood Azhar, based on incidents presented early in the film.
Fans speculate on who Bade Sahab in Dhurandhar is. As one Reddit member pointed out, “‘Bade Sahab’ may be Dawood Ibrahim or Masood Azhar. The IC 814 hijackers demanded the release of terrorist Masood Azhar. That occurrence occurs in the first chapter of Dhurandhar. Showing Azhar as Bade Sahab might represent a complete circle moment. That’s a more appealing storyline. Sanyal undoubtedly harbours personal malice towards Azhar. However, it is possible that Dawood Ibrahim is also involved.”
Broader and Extreme Theories in Dhurandhar
Other theories have a far greater scope. One commenter speculated, “My wild wild guess—Bade Sahab is Osama.”
Another criticism focused solely on the casting detail revealed in the credits, noting, “It’s evident that Jaskirat will be apprehended, tortured, and slain… Danish Iqbal, a very good actor, will play Dawood’s role.”
Symbolic Interpretation in Dhurandhar
Some fans have gone beyond specific names, implying that the persona may symbolise a collection of powers rather than a single person. One post reads: “I don’t know, man. Dawood Ibrahim makes sense because of his financial power. Perhaps he might also be the ISI/Pakistan army chief. Nawaz Sharif could be one of the guys. The film may end with him going into exile and Imran Khan taking command.”
Given Dhurandhar‘s noticeable inspiration from real-world geopolitical events and undercover operations, the confusion around “Bade Sahab” appears intended.
Whether the character is finally revealed as a specific individual or remains symbolic may not be obvious until the film’s second half, but for the time being, the unanswered question has become one of the most talked-about aspects of the film’s post-release commentary.
