The revelation came during an interview in which Kaushik, who plays the role of Donga in the film, described the intensity of the moment and the commitment shown by the cast and director. The scene involves Saumya Tandon’s character, Ulfat, slapping Rehman Dakait, played by Akshaye Khanna. According to Kaushik, the moment was crucial to establishing the emotional core of the character early in the film.
Dhurandhar, which released on December 5, has generated strong audience response, particularly for Khanna’s portrayal of the feared yet emotionally complex dacoit. The slap sequence appears within the first half hour of the film and, according to the team, was designed to reveal Rehman’s vulnerability and dependence on his wife behind closed doors.
Kaushik said Saumya Tandon was initially hesitant about slapping her co-star repeatedly but continued after encouragement from the team. He added that director Aditya Dhar did not interrupt the takes, insisting on capturing the exact intensity required for the scene. “The focus was on getting the emotion right, not the number of takes,” Kaushik said.
He noted that Akshaye Khanna did not react physically during the scene by blocking or resisting the slap, choosing instead to absorb it and respond with an embrace, reinforcing the character’s emotional depth. Crew members and co-actors reportedly watched in silence as the scene was repeated until the director was satisfied.
The actor’s restraint and professionalism have drawn praise within the industry, with colleagues describing the moment as an example of disciplined performance in service of the story.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar is a three-and-a-half-hour period drama, with the opening act focused on establishing Rehman Dakait as both ruthless and deeply sensitive—a contrast the filmmakers say was essential for the narrative that follows.
