Arjun Rampal recalls 26/11 attacks, says Dhurandhar is his 'revenge' for what he saw that night

Arjun Rampal as Major Iqbal in Dhurandhar

Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal, who is basking in the ground-breaking success of Dhurandhar 2, recently recalled a haunting memory from the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He went on to reveal how the traumatic experience of the attack stayed with him for several years and eventually shaped his performance in Dhurandhar.

Arjun Rampal calls Dhurandhar his revenge for 26/11

Rampal was recently honoured at the Hello! Hall of Fame Awards held in Mumbai on Sunday, March 22, during which he spoke about witnessing the events of 26/11 unfold in real time. During his speech, Rampal said he was in the city on the night of the attacks, and that it happened on his birthday.

Recalling the chilling experience, he said, "On November 26, 2008, I was in this hotel (Four Seasons, Worli). I'd come to pick up my friends and we were on our way to Taj because we were going there to celebrate my birthday. One guy was getting ready...God bless him. We were at the bar, we ordered a drink and the first bomb went off near Mahim. I heard that sound and my glass shook. We were like 'What the hell was that?'"

He added, "Within 10 minutes, our phones were ringing and everybody said there's some gang war that has broken in Colaba and we were asked not to go there. In 20 to 30 minutes, the whole Four Seasons was cordoned off. We were allowed to stay in the hotel that night and were asked not to go out as it was not safe. On my birthday, I saw the horrors of 26/11 attacks play out."

Rampal further shared that what began as a birthday celebration soon turned into a night of fear and uncertainty. The explosion and the rapid escalation of panic around him made it clear that it was something far more serious than a gang conflict.

He further recalled, "In the morning when I drove back home, I stopped ta least three times because I thought I was going to be sick. When Aditya Dhar narrated to me the 26/11 scene, I knew I was going to have my revenge and that's what I did with Dhurandhar. All I want to say is 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'."

Arjun Rampal's role in Dhurandhar

Arjun Rampal plays the antagonist Major Iqbal in the Dhurandhar franchise. He is a cold and calculating ISI mastermind inspired by real-life militant figure Ilyas Kashmiri. His character is shown to be one of the key figures behind the 26/11 attacks. Rampal's performance as the ruthless antagonist has been widely appreciated, with many crediting him for the film's success alongside actors like Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi and Akshaye Khanna.