Manav Gohil has opened up about his experience on the sets of Dhurandhar, recalling how a real-life milestone for Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone coincided with a noticeable shift during the film’s shoot.Speaking about Ranveer’s physical transformation in the film, Manav revealed that there was a significant gap in the shooting schedule during which Ranveer and Deepika welcomed their baby.“I think the transition, because you see it in the film, feels very sudden. But for me, we didn’t shoot for a few months in between, and of course Ranveer and Deepika had a baby during that phase as well. So he went through a lot,” Manav told Mamaraazzi. He added that when Ranveer returned to set, the transformation was evident.“When I first saw him in Bangkok, he was in his Hamza phase—completely beefed up, very particular about his food and discipline. Months later, when he came back, he had transitioned into Jaskirat, a sharp, young boy—almost like someone straight out of the army. So yes, the shift was very evident.”
‘Knowing Ranveer, I was sure he would create magic’
Manav admitted he wasn’t surprised by Ranveer’s transformation, given the actor’s dedication.“I wasn’t surprised honestly because the film demanded it, and knowing Ranveer and the kind of dedication he has towards cinema, I was sure he would create magic—and he did, undoubtedly.”
‘Madhavan is a delight—like an elder brother on set’
Opening up about working with R Madhavan, Manav described the experience as enriching and comforting.“He is a delight. He has the experience of all these years and he’s very intelligent, which makes him very wise. We had long chats—he realised I’m a student of cinema and people, and he shared a lot.”He added that Madhavan’s presence made things easier for co-actors. “He’s a very secure actor—no territorial behaviour. It almost felt like an elder brother helping you so that you don’t feel awkward or go through bumps.”
Aditya Dhar ‘like a swan’ on set
Manav also had high praise for director Aditya Dhar, describing his working style with an interesting analogy.“I said he’s like a swan—on the surface, he’s flowing smoothly, but beneath the water, he’s paddling very hard.”Despite the scale of the production, the filmmaker remained calm and in control. “With such a huge canvas and cast, he was still calm, quiet, smiling. He had done a great amount of homework.”Highlighting Aditya’s directorial approach, Manav said the filmmaker focused on restraint.“All the detailing people are talking about—he was very clear. Effortlessly, he would say, ‘Let’s bring it down to six if it’s at ten.’ He cuts the flare of the acting and lets the content shine.”
