Ranveer Singh humbled himself in Dhurandhar, ‘controlled’ the crowd during rally scene, says co-star Naveen Kaushik: ‘He guided them’
During an interview with SCREEN, Dhurandhar actor Naveen Kaushik aka Donga revealed that Ranveer Singh helped in controlling the crowd while shooting the rally scenes of the film.
Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar has been making noise with its positive reviews and record-breaking box office numbers everyday since its release on December 5. The spy-thriller drama has also become the actor’s highest grossing film ever. During a recent sit-down interview with SCREEN in his hometown Delhi, Naveen Kaushik, who played the role of Donga in Dhurandhar, revealed that Ranveer helped in controlling the crowd while shooting the rally scenes of the film. He also weighed in on the debate of Akshaye Khanna overshadowing Ranveer Singh in the movie.
‘Ranveer Singh humbled himself in Dhurandhar’
During the candid chat, Naveen recalled shooting the political rally scenes with Ranveer and shared, “He humbled himself to a point where he was controlling the crowd during the rally scenes… the political rally that happened. He was there, controlling the audience, because they would see him there. He knew if he spoke to them and guided them in what needs to be done, they would do it better. So, he stood, even though his bits were already shot.”
The actor further added, “Ranveer knew that if he tried to play himself as the star of the film, people will not be able to give their best work. They need to see him as Ranveer, as Hamza… the guy who joins the gang and slowly becomes friends with everyone. That’s what he did on the sets, he would always be friendly with everyone. He used this energy to make sure that people felt comfortable with him, instead of being intimidated.”
‘Dhurandhar’s third act was tough’
When asked what was the most challenging part for him, Naveen shared, “The whole action scene at the end because I haven’t gotten the opportunity to do action till now. It is something you need to be aware of because they are so many risks involved. A lot of it is dependent on timing, from the special effects to bullet wounds, etc. It was exciting to do that, but also a little intimidating.”
Moreover, Ranveer Singh was quite helpful in giving tips and tricks to his co-stars to do action scenes. He continued, “So, that was a challenging piece, there were so many instructions coming my way. That whole action sequence was shot over 6-7 days. Had to maintain the emotion for that long. He guided me during that scene because he has done so much action. He was able to give tips and tricks to me that maybe an actor knows, but a stunt coordinator might not know. He was helping me out with those things.”
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Watch Naveen Kaushik talk about Dhurandhar, Ranveer, Akshaye and playing Donga
Why Ranveer Singh didn’t dance during Akshaye Khanna’s viral Fa9la
Naveen Kaushik also revealed why Ranveer wasn’t dancing during Akshaye’s viral entry song, FA9LA. “That’s his character. He is the guy who is quietly observing everything and noticing the intricacies of people’s relationship. He is a spy, and a spy does not try and take attention. They want to hide in the shadows and want people to forget them after seeing them. So, when everyone is dancing, he is staying true to his character, taking note of things,” he said.
“That is the most wonderful thing he has achieved with this character, because a lot of people are talking about Akshaye sir’s character and there is this whole debate happening. That’s the character, being true to a spy. It’s very easy to turn this into a James Bond character, coming in a fancy car and saying things. A spy shouldn’t be flashy. It is an extreme feather in his cap because Hamza doesn’t want the attention, no one should talk about him. He has done a commendable job, because that was the intention, the actor concluded.
Directed by Aditya Dhar and produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, Dhurandhar also features Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun in key roles. According to the latest update, it has already crossed the Rs 900 crore mark at the global box office. The film’s sequel, Dhurandhar 2, is scheduled to hit the big screens on March 19, 2026.
Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events.
Experience & Professional Background
Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include:
The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam.
Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include:
Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth.
Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era.
On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan.
South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More
