google.com, pub-7978201358560288, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 Arjun Rampal in Dhurandhar 2: Major Iqbal is Back and Honest to God, We Are Obsessed!
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Arjun Rampal in Dhurandhar 2: Major Iqbal is Back and Honest to God, We Are Obsessed!

Okay, stop everything you are doing—yes, even that doom-scrolling session on Instagram—because we need to talk about the absolute serve that is Arjun Rampal right now. The internet is screaming, and for once, it’s for all the right reasons. If you watched Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar on December 5, 2025, you know exactly whose DMs we mentally slid into.

Arjun Rampal as Major Iqbal didn't just play a villain; he defined an entire mood. And now that Dhurandhar: Part 2 is confirmed, we are officially entering the golden era of Bollywood baddies. The tea? Rampal is finally getting the screen time he deserves after being criminally underrated for a literal decade. Let’s break it down.

The Breakdown

Major Iqbal: Not Your Average Bollywood Gundaa

Let's be real, Bollywood villains can sometimes be a little... cringe. But Arjun Rampal in Dhurandhar? Main Character Energy.

He plays Major Iqbal, a character inspired by the real-life notorious militant Ilyas Kashmiri. This isn't just about looking menacing (though, let’s admit it, the man has aged like fine wine); it’s the psychological warfare. He plays a sophisticated intelligence operative caught in the mess of the 2008 Mumbai attacks and Operation Lyari.

  • The Vibe: Dark, brooding, and terrifyingly intelligent.

  • The Sequel Hype: In Dhurandhar 2 (dropping March 19, 2026), he’s going head-to-head with Ranveer Singh again. The internet is already predicting that the villain might just outshine the hero, and honestly? We stan a complex antagonist.

We Were Robbed: The "Lost Decade" of Arjun Rampal

Can we have a serious conversation about how Bollywood fumbled the bag with this man? Between 2006 and 2011, Arjun Rampal was everywhere.

  • Om Shanti Om: Gave us "Mike," the villain we loved to hate.

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  • Ra.One: "Tum har saal Raavan ko isliye jalate ho..."—that line lives rent-free in my head.

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  • Rock On!! & Raajneeti: Critical acclaim galore.

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But then? The industry just... stopped trying. He was sidelined into forgettable supporting roles while lesser actors got the spotlight. It’s actually tragic. He had to pivot to OTT (shoutout to Netflix's Rana Naidu) just to get scripts that actually challenged him. He literally said "Bye, Felicia" to mediocre Bollywood scripts to find quality work on streaming.

The Villain Era is His "Rom Empire"

Here is the hot take: Arjun Rampal was never meant to be the chocolate boy; he was born to break bad. Critics are calling his performance in Dhurandhar "spine-chilling," noting that he makes you question if such evil exists in real life. That is talent. Whether it was the raw grit in Ek Ajnabee or the swagger in Crakk (movie flopped, but his look? A hit), he has this magnetic energy that makes you uncomfortable but keeps your eyes glued to the screen.

With Dhurandhar 2, produced by the giants at Jio Studios, the industry is finally waking up. It’s not just a comeback; it’s a reclamation.

TL;DR

Movie: Dhurandhar: Part 2 Release Date: March 19, 2026 Star Cast: Arjun Rampal (Major Iqbal), Ranveer Singh Director: Aditya Dhar Character Inspiration: Ilyas Kashmiri (Real-life militant) Vibe: High-octane Spy Thriller / Psychological Action Where to Watch: Theaters (initially), likely JioCinema/Netflix post-release.

Fans Also Asked

1. When is the Dhurandhar Part 2 release date in India?

The confirmed release date for Dhurandhar: Part 2 is March 19, 2026. Time to cancel all your Holi hangover plans because you'll be at the theater.

2. Who is Arjun Rampal's character Major Iqbal based on? Major Iqbal is modeled after Ilyas Kashmiri, a real-world terrorist operative linked to the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Rampal studied the psychological depth of the figure to make the performance terrifyingly authentic.

3. Why did Arjun Rampal stop doing Bollywood movies for a while? Simply put: The scripts were mid. Rampal openly stated he wanted to avoid monotonous roles and the "hero's friend" trap, leading him to pivot to OTT hits like Rana Naidu where he could explore complex, grey characters.

4. Is Arjun Rampal the villain in Dhurandhar? Yes, and he's the ultimate big bad. He plays the antagonist Major Iqbal, a role that critics are calling a career-best, rivaling his iconic villain turn in Om Shanti Om.

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