In a revealing behind-the-scenes account, actor Aditya Uppal has shared the intense experience of filming a violent scene with the seasoned Akshaye Khanna for the blockbuster film Dhurandhar. Uppal, who played Pakistani task force member Omar Haider, disclosed that Khanna personally instructed him to deliver a genuine, hard-hitting slap to ensure the scene's authenticity, despite Uppal's initial hesitation about physically confronting a senior actor.
The Moment of Hesitation and Instruction
During an appearance on the Abhishek Pali Talks podcast, Aditya Uppal recounted the filming of a crucial sequence inside a van. He admitted feeling a natural reluctance at first. "There was a little hesitation at first. He is a senior actor," Uppal stated. However, he channeled his character's mindset, where Khanna's character, Rehman Dakait, was the enemy. The scene, directed by Sanjay Dutt's character, required the actors to beat up Khanna's character.
Uppal described the first take, where he held back to avoid causing real injury, especially in the compact van set. "When I hit him for the first time, obviously I was a little taken aback, I thought of doing it softly," he said. It was then that Akshaye Khanna gave him a clear and direct instruction: "Tez se maaro, main gir nahi raha hu (Hit me properly, I am not falling)." Only after Khanna repeated this direction did Uppal commit fully, delivering the powerful hit that made the final cut.
Rigorous Weapon Training for Authenticity
Beyond the physical confrontation, Uppal also shed light on the meticulous preparation demanded by director Aditya Dhar for the action-packed film. He revealed that the cast underwent proper weapon training before shooting. Director Dhar was insistent that every actor handling a gun on set knew exactly how to operate it, ensuring no time was wasted during filming and that the portrayal was technically accurate.
"Aditya sir is very particular about this... you should know how to use a gun," Uppal explained. For his role as a Pakistani officer, this was especially critical to differentiate his handling from that of an untrained criminal. Uppal trained specifically with a Glock, learning its mechanism, including how to unload the magazine and operate it smoothly under pressure.
A Box Office Juggernaut
This attention to gritty detail and committed performances appears to have paid off handsomely. Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar and featuring an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal alongside Akshaye Khanna, has become a massive commercial success. The film has crossed the remarkable Rs 800 crore mark at the global box office, cementing its place as one of the year's biggest hits.
The anecdote shared by Aditya Uppal offers a glimpse into the professional dedication of Akshaye Khanna, whose performance is being widely praised. It underscores the lengths to which the film's team went to achieve a raw and believable cinematic experience, contributing to the movie's overwhelming audience reception and financial triumph.
