Mumbai: Arjun Rampal’s portrayal of ISI Major Iqbal, ominously known as the Angel of Death, has become one of the most discussed aspects of Dhurandhar. As the movie enjoys a successful run in theaters, the work of Rampal as the villain in the movie has elicited very strong responses online. Many viewers have called it one of the most unsettling and controlled performances of his career.
Arjun Rampal Speaks of His Character
Arjun Rampal is a quiet actor with an intense presence yet he does not resort to loud villain cliches, he brings out a disturbingly realistic character. His composed threat, collected looks and cold silences have made a memorable impact on his audiences.
Arjun Rampal confessed in a recent interaction that portraying Major Iqbal affected him emotionally. The actor said that it was totally uncomfortable to be in the mindset of a character whose ideology was not in line with his own.
“I wanted to get out of the character as soon as I could,” Rampal said, adding that he still chose to do the role because Dhurandhar was an important film. He said that people watch such events on screen and it can be exciting to them, but that being an actor in such an event is a totally different thing.
Rampal further shared that portraying someone who stands against his own love for the country made the role especially difficult. “You feel horrible doing it because you love your country so much. But that is an actor’s job. You have to dive into it completely,” he said.
A villain built on silence and restraint
What makes the performance of Rampal unique is its moderated intensity. It is not full of melodramatic outbursts and overblown villainy scenes. Instead, the fear comes from what is left unsaid. His body language, pauses, and steady gaze create a slow burning tension that keeps viewers uneasy throughout the film.
This understated approach has been widely praised, with many calling Major Iqbal one of the most realistically terrifying antagonists seen in recent action thrillers.
Eyes now on Dhurandhar 2
As Dhurandhar is establishing Major Iqbal as a dominant force in the eyes of everyone, there is already a buzz in what follows. The audience is waiting to watch the plot of Dhurandhar 2, which will be released in theatres on March 19, 2026.
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