Yami Gautam's cameo appearance in 'Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge' was one of the most delightful surprises the film had in store for its audiences. As it turns out, even the cast was not let in on the secret.
Danish Pandor, who plays the memorable role of Uzair Baloch in the Ranveer Singh-led spy thriller, has revealed in a recent interview that he was completely unaware of Yami's cameo until it unfolded on screen. The actor went on to heap praise on Yami's performance and her husband, director Aditya Dhar, calling the latter one of his biggest personal inspirations.
Danish Pandor on Yami Gautam's surprise cameo in 'Dhurandhar 2'
Yami Gautam plays Shazia Bano, a nurse, in a brief but impactful scene alongside Ranveer Singh in 'Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge.' While the role may have come across as small in terms of screen time, it carries significant weight in the larger narrative of the film. But what made her appearance even more remarkable is that it caught not just audiences off guard but her co-stars as well.
In a conversation with CNN News18 Showsha, Danish revealed, "I wasn't aware of her cameo — in the sense that I didn't know at what point she comes in. These decisions are all taken by the director himself. So, I was completely oblivious of it. I was totally surprised as I wasn't there when she shot for her cameo."
Danish Pandor heaps praise on Yami Gautam's screen presence
Despite being unaware of the cameo beforehand, Pandor was clearly blown away by what Gautam brought to her brief role on screen. He did not hold back in his admiration, saying, "Her part in this film is done so beautifully. It's such a strong cameo. She enters the frame and the whole frame lifts up. It was a delight to see her onscreen. I personally think Yami ma'am is a beautiful actress and a terrific performer at the same time."
'Dhurandhar 2 box office collection day 8: Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi, Arjun Rampal starrer grosses Rs 805 crore in India; worldwide total nears Rs 1,100 croreDanish Pandor hails director Aditya Dhar
Beyond his praise for Yami, Pandor also praised director Aditya Dhar having worked with him for over a year and a half, including during pre-production workshops for the film.
"There's one thing that I can say about him and that is he's one of my biggest inspirations. The kind of a person that he is… he's just terrific! On a film set, there's so much chaos every time you go to shoot a scene but he always stayed calm. He went with the flow," said Danish.
Pandor further highlighted Aditya's remarkable ability to manage an enormous production without ever losing his focus or composure. "He's such an amazing personality and a humble soul. Managing so many big actors, so many departments… he had a lot of burden on his shoulders, even in terms of how the film will turn out. But he didn't let that come in the way. He was always so focused. His vision was so strong," Danish continued.
Danish Pandor also reflected on Aditya Dhar's journey, "In 2006, Aditya sir was supposed to do a film with Katrina Kaif and Fawad Khan. That didn't happen. He waited for a long time. Things were culminating but then shutting down but he didn't lose his hope. He stayed true to his craft and trusted the process. He never lost hope. What perseverance! And then Uri: The Surgical Strike happened!"
About Yami Gautam's Role in 'Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge'
Yami Gautam's inclusion in Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge had been a subject of much speculation ever since a special acknowledgement to her by Aditya Dhar appeared in the first film's credits. In the sequel, she plays Shazia Bano, a nurse whose brief interaction with Ranveer Singh's Hamza proves to be a quietly pivotal moment in the film's narrative.
More about 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge'
'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' is the high-octane sequel to the 2025 blockbuster 'Dhurandhar,' directed by Aditya Dhar. The film stars Ranveer Singh in the lead role, alongside an ensemble cast featuring Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi, Sara Arjun and Danish Pandor. Delving deeper into the origin story of how Jaskirat Singh transformed into the covert operative Hamza, the film has already grossed a worldwide collection of over Rs. 1,067 crore in just its opening week, according to Sacnilk.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the
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