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Time of India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Akshaye Khanna returns as an antagonist in Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar?
After delivering a cold, calculated performance as Aurangzeb in Chhaava, is set to don the antagonist's hat once again in 's upcoming action thriller Dhurandhar. The film, headlined by , is based on a daring rescue mission and promises an intense face-off between Singh and Khanna's characters. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Dhurandhar marks Aditya Dhar's return to the espionage genre after the blockbuster success of Uri: The Surgical Strike. This time, he assembles an ensemble cast featuring Singh, , , , and Akshaye Khanna. While Ranveer essays the role of a Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer spearheading a critical rescue operation, Khanna plays one of the film's principal antagonists, pitted directly against Singh's character. Sources close to ETimes shared that details of Akshaye's role have been tightly guarded, but reveal that he portrays a sharp-witted adversary working against India's interests in the high-stakes mission. His character is expected to weave layers of manipulation and betrayal into the narrative, making him a formidable opponent for Ranveer's fearless agent. R. Madhavan, meanwhile, will be seen in a character inspired by India's National Security Advisor, . His look and demeanour in the film have reportedly been designed to closely resemble the real-life strategist. Madhavan's character is the brains behind the mission, orchestrating the operation while Ranveer executes it on the ground. Sanjay Dutt also takes on a negative role in the film. With both Dutt and Khanna as antagonists, Dhurandhar is poised to be a gripping cat-and-mouse thriller where loyalties are tested and no one can be film also features Arjun Rampal in a very important role. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Filming is already underway with major portions shot in Mumbai. Akshaye's return as an antagonist, coupled with Ranveer's patriotic fervour and Madhavan's commanding presence, makes Dhurandhar one of the most anticipated films on the horizon.
New Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Former R&AW chief Dulat pitches for restoration of J&K statehood, dialogue with Pakistan
NEW DELHI: Former Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief AS Dulat on Tuesday strongly pitched for restoration of statehood to Jammu & Kashmir and favoured resumption of talks between India and Pakistan. Speaking at the 25th edition of the 'Delhi Dialogue' programme hosted by TNIE , Dulat said that the most pressing issue currently facing Jammu & Kashmir is the restoration of its statehood. 'The restoration of statehood to J&K would not only help in improving the credibility of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, but also of Delhi. This will restore the dignity of people of Jammu & Kashmir,' he said. When asked if the statehood would be restored anytime soon, Dulat said, 'You know, I was there for Omar's swearing in Srinagar and on my return from there I thought it might happen. But, now I don't see it happening, but only time will tell whether I am right or wrong.' On the issue of India resuming talks with Pakistan, the former spymaster quoted YD Gundevia, who served as the last Foreign Secretary of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, as he said, '…sands are running out. Time is on nobody's side. We need to move on.' 'I don't know why, but we need to talk to Pakistan. Both Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, two main leaders in Kashmir, have repeatedly been saying we should talk to Pakistan and I believe that is the way forward,' Dulat said, adding that otherwise 'terrorism is not going to go away.' When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and whether his top advisers were making any efforts to engage Pakistan in dialogue, the ex-R&AW chief said, 'I don't know S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister, but I know National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, as we had been colleagues and also friends. I have great regards for Doval. So his thinking has to be the same as the Prime Minister's thinking. They have to be on the same page. So obviously, if we are not talking to Pakistan, it has to be the NSA's thinking and also the Prime Minister's thinking.' Dulat went on to say, 'I can't see anybody around who can replace him (Ajit Doval).' Terming Pakistan as an important neighbor as China, Dulat said, it has been the right that terror and talks can't go together, which the government of India has been saying for a long time. 'The stand is justified, but I say, we will not talk about Kashmir. Let us talk about terror. Let's talk about visas. Let's talk about coming and going.' On the reasons as to why terrorists shifted their attack targets from the Kashmir Valley to the Jammu region, Dulat said, 'The main reason is that the Kashmiris are tired and sick of guns and getting killed. So, even Pakistan realised why get Kashmris killed. It is better to get Hindus killed in Jammu. There is an area in Jammu region called Pir Panjal where time and time again, there have been attacks.'
