Being a big sahib: Actor Danish Iqbal shares 9-hour process in makeup without food
Danish Iqbal revealed that he spent up to nine hours a day in artificial make-up to become ‘Bade Saheb’ in Dhurandhar: The Revenge.
Actor Danish Iqbal has revealed about his profound transformation Dhurandhar: Revenge. He told how he spent hours in artificial make-up to play the character ‘Bade Saheb’ inspired by dawood ibrahimIn the film directed by Aditya Dhar.
Talking about the auspicious daily routine, Danish told ndtv“If my shift was 7 to 7, I would reach the set by 3 in the morning. I had five to six people working on me and it took about nine hours.”
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The elaborate synthetic process came with its own challenges. “You can’t breathe properly, after breathing you can’t eat anything. You’re sweating inside, you feel trapped,” the actor said.
He revealed that he survived mostly on liquids during the shooting days, adding, “The whole day I was on liquids. Just a little juice for energy, maybe a little dark chocolate.”
Despite the physical strain, Iqbal used the discomfort to his advantage. He said, “After nine hours of makeup, you are already tired. I used that same tiredness for the character. It really helped me.”
Danish Iqbal on going beyond physical transformation
Danish Iqbal’s preparation went beyond just physical transformation. The actor immersed himself in observing people with different physical conditions to understand their behavior and communication styles, aiming to capture the essence of the character rather than simply mimicking external traits.
This approach was guided by his attempt to portray how someone physically weak could still achieve authority.
Iqbal also identified dialogue delivery as one of the most difficult aspects of the role, as it required maintaining intensity and authority while working within the limitations imposed by prosthetics.
The journey to reach the role unfolded slowly. “It started with a call asking about my height, my weight, my physical condition,” he recalled.
The actor further added, “Then the meetings started, the reading started, but I still didn’t know the whole picture.”
The defining moment came during the mock trial, when he saw his transformation and realized the importance of the role. “When I looked at myself in the mirror, I was shocked. I didn’t recognize myself,” Iqbal said.
It was equally important to maintain the secrecy around the character. He said, “We sign NDAs. You have to protect things that can spoil the film. I didn’t tell my family what I was playing. There is a right time for everything to come out. Till then, you have to stop it.”
About Dhurandhar: Revenge
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar: Revenge stars ranveer singh As Indian spy Hamza Ali Mazari, alongside Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi.
Released worldwide on March 19, the high-stakes action thriller has received an overwhelming response at the box office, cementing its place among the biggest cinematic successes of the year.