Danish Iqbal On Playing Dawood Why Impact Matters More Than Image

Actor Danish Iqbal, now widely recognized for portraying the chilling “Bade Sahab” inspired by Dawood in Dhurandhar, is finally opening up about the process, philosophy, and pressure behind stepping into one of the most controversial characters on screen. In a candid and unfiltered interaction, the actor revealed that his journey into the role was far more organic than one might expect.

 

Speaking about how the role came his way, Danish credited casting director Mukesh Chhabra for spotting him without the conventional audition route. He shared, “Mukesh Ji has an incredibly sharp eye. Think about how many actors there are in India—yet he has everyone mapped in his mind. Sometimes years go by without a call, and then suddenly one morning you’re asked if you’re free. That’s how it happened with me. I didn’t audition or give a screen test. He must have had my previous work tapes and showed them to Aditya Sir, and just like that—it was done.”

 

The film, helmed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, has turned into a massive success, but Danish’s portrayal stands out for its intensity and realism. Interestingly, despite the weight and controversy associated with the character, the actor chose not to approach it with fear or hesitation.

 

Addressing the challenges of playing a grey-shaded role inspired by a figure like Dawood, Danish explained his core acting philosophy. “I am an actor. Whatever comes my way, I have to do it. For me, that character becomes my hero. If I start judging him as a bad person, my performance will become weak. My personal opinion may be different, but as an actor, I have to believe in the character completely. I didn’t worry about backlash or how people would react. If you keep thinking about all that, how will you act?”

 

His performance has not only been appreciated but has also sparked conversations online, especially around a now-viral “doubt” pose image from the film. Revealing the effort behind that one still, Danish shared an interesting behind-the-scenes story from a shoot in Thailand. What seemed like a simple photoshoot turned into hours of meticulous work.

 

“We thought it would be just one quick photo, but it took us hours. The challenge was recreating the exact feel of an old photograph taken with a point-and-shoot camera. We were using modern digital equipment, so matching that raw texture and authenticity was extremely difficult. Aditya Sir was very particular—every angle, every posture, every detail mattered. We must have taken around a hundred shots, and after all that, he selected just one.”

 

The actor also reacted to the unexpected meme culture that has emerged around his character, choosing to see the positive side of it. Rather than resisting it, he acknowledged that the attention has only amplified the reach of his performance, bringing more viewers to the film.

 

At a time when actors often weigh public perception heavily, Danish Iqbal’s grounded approach stands out. For him, it is not about screen time or image—but impact. And with Dhurandhar, he has clearly made one that audiences are unlikely to forget anytime soon.