The blockbuster spy thriller Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, has not only set the box office on fire but also hidden a gem of a joke for sharp-eared audiences. Amidst its high-octane narrative of an Indian spy's covert mission in Pakistan, the film features a hilarious and clever passing reference to popular Pakistani singer Atif Aslam. This moment, delivered by veteran actor Rakesh Bedi, is more than just a throwaway line—it's a consciously injected piece of humour with a timely real-world backdrop.
The Pivotal Scene: A Witty Exchange on Eid
In a crucial scene set on Eid, characters Rehman Dakait (played by Akshaye Khanna) and the scheming Pakistani politician Jameel Jamali (played by Rakesh Bedi) engage in a tense conversation. Rehman informs Jamali, "Aslam wapis aa gaya (Aslam is back)," referring to the menacing SP Chaudhary Aslam (Sanjay Dutt), whom Jamali has hired to eliminate him.
Feigning innocence, Jamali responds with deliberate confusion, asking, "Atif Aslam? Wo kahan gaya tha? (Where did he go?)." This quick-witted and cheeky deflection, pretending to think of the singer instead of the police officer, serves as a moment of levity before the plot thickens with subsequent assassination attempts. The joke lands perfectly due to Bedi's impeccable timing and the unexpected nature of the reference in a serious political thriller.
The Real-World Context Behind the Joke
This humorous mention is not random but is rooted in recent events that Indian audiences would readily recognize. Earlier in 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attacks in Jammu & Kashmir in April, the Indian government took action against several Pakistani artists. Their social media accounts were blocked within India.
Users attempting to view Atif Aslam's Instagram profile were met with the message: "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content." Therefore, Jamali's question, "Where did he go?" humorously alludes to this very real and widely reported "absence" of the singer from the Indian digital space, adding a layer of contemporary satire to the dialogue.
Rakesh Bedi's 'Relief Shot' of Humour
In an exclusive revelation, actor Rakesh Bedi explained his deliberate approach to infusing humour into his role. He described his character's funny moments as technically being "relief shots" for the audience. "If you make a film tense for three hours in one go, then the audience would get overwhelmed. So, you need to break that with some humour," Bedi stated.
He admitted that director Aditya Dhar initially had reservations about adding comic touches to such intense scenes. Bedi recalled a specific instance where he improvised a "Screw you, boss!" gesture. "When he asked me not to do it, I told him when I used to do that in a play where the situation was the same, the audience would erupt into laughter," said the veteran actor. That very gesture eventually made it into the film's trailer and became a popular GIF, vindicating Bedi's instinct.
Bedi's performance has been so well-received that he is confirmed to reprise his role as Jameel Jamali in the already announced sequel of Dhurandhar, which is slated for a theatrical release on March 19, 2026.
The inclusion of the Atif Aslam reference showcases the nuanced layering present in Dhurandhar's screenplay. It successfully blends current affairs with narrative craft, using a simple line to achieve multiple goals: providing comic relief, grounding the story in a relatable reality, and highlighting the cleverness of a corrupt politician. As the film continues its record-breaking run, crossing the Rs 600 crore mark worldwide, such details contribute to the buzz and make it a talking point beyond just its action and patriotism.
