1,200 auditions later, why Sara Arjun bagged Dhurandhar opposite Ranveer Singh

Casting director Mukesh Chhabra opened up about Sara Arjun's casting in Dhurandhar. He revealed that many actors vied for the role of Yalina opposite Ranveer Singh's Hamza.

When a film stars Ranveer Singh, it’s no surprise that actors line up to share screen space with him. Director Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar was no exception – with several actors keen to be cast opposite the star. But in a surprising move, the makers went with a relatively fresh face, 20-year-old Sara Arjun – and now, casting director Mukesh Chhabra has revealed why.

In a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, Chhabra shared that both he and Dhar were flooded with requests from actors eager to be part of the film. However, the team was clear about one thing – they needed someone who would look like they truly belonged to the world of Dhurandhar, without any preconceived image.

"A lot of people were messaging Aditya too, saying they wanted to be cast opposite Ranveer. I was getting messages as well. But I told Aditya very clearly that we needed a face that truly looked like she belonged to that place, without any old baggage. So a new face would work better because any actor who has done two films with Ranveer, that connection won’t be established because his character is going to Pakistan and meeting her," Chhabra said.

Interestingly, despite having acted as a child, Sara Arjun had not yet taken on a full-fledged lead role in Bollywood. That worked in her favour. The makers were keen on introducing a face that would feel fresh and unfamiliar to the audience.

He added, "We were clear that if we were entering that world, it had to feel like a complete surprise – people should wonder who this girl is. We held so many auditions, around 1,200–1,300 in all, and then we finally auditioned Sara. We were also craving a new face."

In Dhurandhar and its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Sara plays Yalina, the daughter of politician Jameel Jamali. Her character falls in love with Ranveer Singh’s role, and the two get married. The sequel delves deeper into their relationship, exploring cracks that emerge as Yalina uncovers the truth about her husband’s identity.