Aditya Dhar’s highly anticipated film Dhurandhar finally hit theatres on December 5, 2025. With a powerful ensemble cast featuring Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt and Akshaye Khanna, the film revisits some of the darkest chapters in India’s recent history. Set against the backdrop of the IC-814 hijacking in 1999 and the Parliament attack in 2001, the movie blends fact with dramatization, drawing heavily from real incidents and real people.
What has particularly caught the attention of viewers is Arjun Rampal’s terrifying performance as Major Iqbal, a character inspired by a real militant-turned-terrorist whose name is feared across South Asia.
Arjun Rampal Plays Ruthless Antagonist in ‘Dhurandhar’
In the film, Arjun Rampal steps into the shoes of Major Iqbal, a cold-blooded figure responsible for some of the most gruesome acts shown on screen. When the trailer of Dhurandhar was released, audiences were stunned by the opening sequence depicting the torture of Major Saurabh Kalia, who had been taken prisoner during the Kargil War.
The man shown orchestrating the brutal torture in the film is Arjun’s character. According to reports, his role is inspired by Pakistani militant Mohammed Ilyas Kashmiri a name that sends shivers down the spine of counterterror officials across the world.
Arjun, when asked about his violent role during the trailer launch at NMACC, chose not to reveal much. He simply said, “I don’t want to talk about the scene much… I find myself boring when I explain too much about a process. So I won’t talk about it.”
Who Was Ilyas Kashmiri?
Ilyas Kashmiri was once considered one of Pakistan’s most dangerous militant leaders. His journey began during the Soviet-Afghan war, where he trained Afghan mujahideen in the use of explosives. Over time, he co-founded the jihadist group Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, which became active in Kashmir and other regions.
Kashmiri had connections with the Taliban and later became deeply involved with al-Qaeda. He was linked to several major terror attacks, including:
- the 2008 Mumbai attacks
- the 2010 Pune bombing
- the assassination of Benazir Bhutto
- the killing of Pakistan Army commando Ameer Faisal Alavi
He was also the man who reportedly proposed the idea of the Mumbai attacks to al-Qaeda leadership. Because of his influence within global terror networks, the United States designated him a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” in 2010.
Kashmiri’s closeness to Osama bin Laden was widely known. Some reports even suggested that Osama wanted him to plan an attack on then–US President Barack Obama. After Osama’s death, Kashmiri was considered one of the possible successors to head al-Qaeda.
In 2011, he was believed to have been killed in a US drone strike, though rumours of his survival continued for years. It was only in 2012 that an al-Qaeda spokesman officially confirmed his death.
Arjun Rampal’s Praised For His Performance
Since the film’s release, Arjun Rampal’s character has become one of the most talked-about aspects of Dhurandhar because of its on-screen intensity and brutality. His performance is outstanding despite limited screen time, and audiences are eager to see how he will portray the story of Ilyas Kashmiri in Dhurandhar Part 2.
