Celebrity makeup artist Preetisheel Singh's behind-the-scenes reel reveals the hours-long manual transformation behind Ranveer Singh's terrifying 'Ghost Born of Shadows' look in Aditya Dhar's blockbuster sequel.

The Viral Moment

A behind-the-scenes video showing how actor Ranveer Singh was physically transformed into the chilling 'Ghost Born of Shadows' character for Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar: The Revenge has gone viral across social media platforms, leaving millions of viewers stunned. The clip, shared by celebrity prosthetics and makeup artist Preetisheel Singh on Instagram, dismantled a widespread assumption — that the terrifying ghost visage was the work of computer-generated imagery.

Hours Under the Brush

In the video, Ranveer Singh is seen seated with remarkable patience as a full team of makeup professionals layered prosthetics, paint, and intricate detailing across his face over several hours. The process, meticulous and painstaking, built the skeletal, shadow-drenched appearance seen on screen — layer by layer, entirely by hand.

Preetisheel captioned the post: "When your mind gets tired, illusion paints its lies in the colours you want to believe. Transforming Ranveer Singh into 'Ghost Born of Shadows'." The description mirrored the haunting aesthetic of the character himself — a fitting note from the artist behind the illusion.

Fans React: 'We Thought It Was AI'

The response online was immediate. Fans and film enthusiasts flooded the comment section, many admitting they had been convinced the look was entirely digital. "Oh! I thought it was VFX," one user wrote. Another commented: "I thought it was CGI." The revelation reframed public perception of what had been considered one of the film's most visually striking elements.

The confusion is understandable. In an era where generative AI tools and advanced VFX pipelines can produce photo-real characters in minutes, the assumption that elaborate prosthetics work still exists in mainstream Indian cinema had quietly faded for many viewers. This video was, in that sense, a correction.

A Film Already Breaking Records

Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the second instalment in Aditya Dhar's franchise, has been performing strongly at the box office since its release. The film has drawn attention not only for its narrative scale but also for its technical ambition — of which the ghost transformation now appears to be one of the more grounded and human achievements.

Industry Praises Aditya Dhar

The film has earned rare, cross-industry acclaim. Actor and filmmaker Kangana Ranaut publicly praised director Aditya Dhar, calling him a "superstar filmmaker" and drawing comparisons to international names such as Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan. SS Rajamouli, director of the Baahubali franchise, said Dhar had done wonders with the film. Filmmaker Rakesh Roshan described it as the beginning of a new era of filmmaking in India.

What the Transformation Signals

The BTS video has renewed conversation about the role of practical effects in Indian cinema. While VFX and digital tools dominate modern production pipelines, Preetisheel's work on this project serves as a reminder that some of the most convincing screen illusions are still built with hands, brushes, and hours of quiet craft — no algorithm required.

What to Watch For Next

As Dhurandhar: The Revenge continues its theatrical run, audience attention will likely shift to the film's other technical elements now that the ghost makeup has been confirmed as prosthetics-based. Preetisheel Singh's growing profile in mainstream Bollywood also points to a broader recognition of makeup artistry as a core pillar of high-budget Indian productions — not a background credit, but a headline achievement in its own right.