R. Madhavan, known for his commitment to character detail, opened up about his striking transformation for Dhurandhar during the film’s trailer launch. The actor revealed that even after multiple look tests, something still felt incomplete — until director Aditya Dhar made an unusual suggestion. According to Madhavan, Dhar told him he needed to make his lips appear thinner for the character to truly come alive. And just like that, Madhavan spent the entire shoot darkening his lips to achieve the desired effect. A dedicated choice, and one that he believes finally completed the character’s visual identity.
Sharing the experience, Madhavan said, “When the look test was going on, even after confirmation, something seemed lacking. Then Aditya Dhar said that I should make my lips thinner. I shot the entire film by darkening my lips. After that, the look felt perfect and suited the role.” His attention to such specific detail shows the level of transformation and intensity the cast brought into Dhar’s ambitious spy-action universe.
In an even bigger statement, Madhavan claimed that while he has acted in several historical films throughout his career, Dhurandhar feels like the most “historical” one yet — not in terms of period setting, but in the magnitude of what it aims to achieve. “I have been a part of many historical films, but I feel this will be the most historical film. After the release of Dhurandhaar, I feel this genre of filmmaking will end in Indian cinema,” he said, suggesting that the film could redefine or even exhaust the action-espionage format with its scale and execution.
He also praised the film’s team, calling them “Maharathis” — giants in their craft. “I am working with Maharathi’s Dhurandhaar,” Madhavan added, highlighting the collective expertise of the cast and crew, which includes Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Sara Arjun, and director Aditya Dhar.
With such passionate endorsements from its ensemble and the promise of intense transformations, Dhurandhar continues building buzz ahead of its release. The film hits theaters on 5 December 2025 and is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about action thrillers of the year.