'Dhurandhar 2', Danish Iqbal As 'Bade Sahab', Spent 12 Hrs In Prosthetics Without Eating Or Moving

Actor, Danish Iqbal is hogging the limelight for playing the role of 'Bade Sahab' a.k.a India's most wanted gangster, Dawood Ibrahim in the movie, Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Did you know that the actor had to undergo gruelling preparation and extensive prosthetic transformation to essay the role of 'Bade Sahab'? His behind-the-scenes process was very long, spent in the makeup room to bring life to his character, Dawood Ibrahim, whose fictional name in the movie was 'Bade Sahab'.

Danish Iqbal's revelations about the hardships he had to undergo to bring the best version of 'Bade Sahab' to the big screen showcased his discipline in bringing the character to life. Danish had to spend roughly 9 to 10 hours in the makeup chair to apply his prosthetic look. The actor then had to spend 3 to 4 hours in the makeup room to get it removed.

Danish Iqbal reveals that playing 'Bade Sahab' was very demanding, as his transformation took 12 hours

Danish Iqbal sat down for an interview with Zoom TV and revealed that it took him roughly 12 hours to transform into the role of 'Bade Sahab'. For the prosthetics to be removed, it used to take more than four hours, meaning the actor had to devote 16 hours a day to putting on and taking off the prosthetic makeup. He had to make a full-day commitment to go skin-deep into the role of 'Bade Sahab'. Danish shared:

Even on shoot days, I was a little bit worried (thinking), how will it come out. But yes, I thoroughly enjoyed the process. And he's such brilliant director, polite person and a great human being. He knows very well how to give comfort to his actors. “It was really difficult to pull off this character. It was not just acting. If you see the prosthetics and makeup, such heavy prosthetics are used. There are scenes in which I have to say lots of lines, also. It was very demanding to act with that heavy make-up."

Danish Iqbal felt like a bride playing 'Bade Sahab' as he had to sit with makeup for 12 hours

Danish, earlier in an interview with Republic Digital, Danish shared that he was always the first one to arrive on the sets of Dhurandhar: The Revenge. He had shared that his preparation process took longer than that of the remaining cast of Dhurandhar 2. The actor already said how he had to sit for 9-10 hours for the makeup, and then it takes a couple of hours to remove, sometimes even three hours. It was very difficult for him to act in the given circumstances. He had shared of feeling like a bride as he mentioned:

"But the atmosphere on the set was so cordial and so positive that I never felt I had this much heaviness or anything extra. It was challenging, but I enjoyed the entire process,. Main hi dulhan tha. I was the bride. Kuch patch hona tha (some patchwork was left after my schedule). I got a call. I was wary. This is a whole 12-hour session of makeup. Rooh fana ho jati thi ki ab 12 ghante baithna hoga.”

Danish Iqbal could not eat or move while shooting for 'Bade Sahab'

Danish Iqbal further revealed that he felt as though he was observing Ramadan months earlier. The actor had taken on the challenge of playing 'Bade Sahab' as a meditative process and enjoyed every step of it. He even spoke about how he could not eat or move as he was in prosthetic makeup. He also had to change his voice and speech while playing the role of a dying man. In his words:

"It was a challenge, but a lifetime opportunity. I am thankful that people are enjoying it and sending me so much love."

Danish Iqbal played the role of Dawood Ibrahim in Dhurandhar: The Revenge

When Dhurandhar was released in 2025, many unverified reports soon after claimed that either Salman Khan or Emraan Hashmi would play the role of 'Bade Sahab' in Dhurandhar: The Revenge. It was confirmed after a long time that Danish played the role based on Dawood Ibrahim, the gangster and terrorist behind the 1993 blasts in Mumbai and different terror strikes in India.

Danish Iqbal, as 'Bade Sahab' is shown to have a slow death

The character is shown to be slowly dying of poison, and is a bedridden man who is authoritative, respected, and demands respect despite his physical limitations. Danish is around 40 and in the prosthetic makeup look for 'Bade Sahab' a.k.a Dawood, he is barely recognisable. The stellar cast of Dhurandhar 2 includes Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Danish Pandor, R Madhavan, and many more. Speaking about Dhurandhar: The Revenge, it continues with the life of 'Hamza Ali Mazari' whose real name is 'Jaskirat Singh Rangi'. His life as an undercover Indian agent is shown, and how he becomes the 'King of Layari'.

What are your views about Danish Iqbal's gruelling transformation as 'Bade Sahab' in Dhurandhar 2?

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