Mustafa Ahmed's Unlikely Driving Transformation for Dhurandhar: The Revenge
In the highly anticipated film Dhurandhar: The Revenge, directed by Aditya Dhar, Ranveer Singh stars as Hamza, an undercover agent navigating Karachi's dangerous underworld. Early in the plot, Hamza meets juice shop owner Aalam, portrayed by Gaurav Gera, and soon after is introduced to another covert Indian operative, Rizwan, played by celebrity trainer-turned-actor Mustafa Ahmed. Initially embedded within Babu Dakait's gang, Rizwan evolves into Hamza's trusted ally, joining him on perilous, high-stakes missions throughout the movie.
Learning to Drive from Scratch for a Hummer Role
Interestingly, before production commenced, Mustafa Ahmed lacked any driving skills, despite having multiple scenes where he operates a Hummer. In an exclusive interview with HT City, the actor opened up about the intensive preparation required to make his performance appear seamless onscreen. Mustafa revealed, "I don't know how to drive. Can you imagine? I've driven a Hummer. I had a 30-day driving lesson and practiced extensively before the Dhurandhar shoot started, because I had numerous driving scenes. Aditya sir called me and said, 'You don't even know how to drive, what am I going to do with you?' So, I had to learn how to drive urgently. After everything, they provided me with a Hummer to drive for the film."
Memorable On-Set Moments with Ranveer Singh
Recalling a particularly fun moment during filming, Mustafa added, "We were shooting, and Ranveer was sitting in the front passenger seat. He encouraged me, saying, 'Sir, I think you should just ram it, go for it. This is a Hummer, you have to enjoy it. You're not going to get this opportunity again.' It was an absolute blast shooting those scenes with him. In the final movie, it looks like I am a complete professional behind the wheel." He also highlighted director Aditya Dhar's meticulous attention to detail, noting that Dhar insisted on Mustafa actually driving in shots where it might have been easier to use a stunt double or cutaway. "There are some shots where I could have been hidden, but Aditya sir insisted, 'No, you have to drive. I want you to drive.' You'll see the car arrives and stops precisely, and he could have easily shown me stepping out, but he demanded authenticity," Mustafa explained.
Industry Praise and Future Aspirations
The actor has received significant appreciation from industry peers following the film's release. Mustafa shared, "Rakesh Roshan messaged me late at night after watching Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which stands as one of the best compliments I've ever received. I was speechless getting a message from someone of his stature. Agastya Nanda, a friend and former trainee of mine, also messaged after seeing the movie. I'm eagerly awaiting feedback from other friends, especially Hrithik Roshan, who has been a pivotal influence in my life. When people you deeply admire validate your work, it's incredibly rewarding." He added excitement about Vicky Kaushal watching the film as well.
Hrithik Roshan, a close friend, publicly congratulated Mustafa on social media, writing, "Congrats Mustafa ❤️ can't wait to see you on screen ?." Mustafa responded humorously, "@hrithikroshan Big man, can’t wait for you to watch it. I am now waiting for my Krissh audition ?." When asked about potentially joining the Krrish franchise in the future, Mustafa expressed both excitement and humility. "Right now, I'm living a dream, pinching myself every morning. If I get a part in Krrish, what more could I ask for? I'm already part of cinematic history thanks to Aditya sir. If that happens, in our next interview, I might just come flying like Krrish," he joked.
