Exclusive | Aditya Uppal on his onscreen camaraderie with Sanjay Dutt in Dhurandhar 2: 'It's a dream come true'

Aditya Uppal and Sanjay Dutt

Dhurandhar 2 has been making waves at the box office, with its characters leaving a lasting impression on audiences. Among them is Aditya Uppal, who plays Omar Haider a layered role that evolves significantly through the narrative. In an exclusive chat, the actor opened up about his journey, audition process, and working alongside Sanjay Dutt.

Recalling how he came on board, Aditya revealed he was among the last to be cast. "When my casting happened, I was given a script and told about the character. I was probably the last person to be cast," he said. Interestingly, he also shared that he shot for the sequel before the first installment. "We never knew the film would be made in parts. I started shooting, and it was part two that I did first," he added.

Talking about Omar Haider, Aditya described the character's steady yet powerful arc. "He is the right hand of Sanjay Dutt. He is the one who looks after the entire space," he explained. Initially quiet and observant, Omar gradually transforms as the story progresses. "He is a very silent man… but by the end, he becomes very aggressive. That's the journey," Aditya noted, adding, "It's a beautiful character. Any actor would love to play a character like this."

To prepare for the role, the actor underwent detailed research. "A lot of material was shared with me. I was told to be myself and try to be as close as possible," he said. He emphasised the character's personality, stating, "He's not a very noisy person. He doesn't talk much, but whatever he speaks makes a lot of sense."

Aditya also spoke fondly about his audition experience with casting director Mukesh Chhabra. "I auditioned a couple of times… first in Delhi, then I met them personally. After a few looks, they decided to go ahead," he shared.

Working with Sanjay Dutt turned out to be a memorable experience for the actor. "I have always been a Sanjay Dutt fan… I never thought I'd get to work with him so early in my career," he admitted. Despite initial nerves, he said, "When I met him, he made me so comfortable… that's his beauty. He is so candid, real and charming."

When asked about whether Omar will ever come to know that it was SP Aslam who sent him in a death trap, however, Omar gets saved from the trap. Aditya added, "He is innocent, loyal and very generous… he considers his mentor as his guru and wants to make him proud."

With a compelling arc and powerful moments, Omar Haider has clearly struck a chord making Aditya Uppal one of the standout performers in the film.