Veteran actor Arjun Rampal recently shared a raw and emotional account of his personal experience during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, revealing how the trauma continues to haunt him nearly two decades later. Speaking at the India Today Hello! Hall of Fame Awards in Mumbai on March 22, 2026, Rampal described how what should have been a celebratory birthday evening transformed into one of the darkest nights of his life.
Firsthand Witness to Horror
Rampal recounted being at a hotel in Worli when the first explosions rang out. Initially confused, he soon realized the city was under coordinated terror attack. He had planned to head to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel for dinner but was delayed by last-minute changes. “On my birthday, I saw the horrors of 26/11 play out,” he said. The next morning, while driving home, he repeatedly stopped the car, overwhelmed by nausea and shock from the images and sounds still fresh in his mind. The actor admitted the memories left deep emotional scars, fueling years of suppressed anger and helplessness.
Channeling Pain into Performance
In Aditya Dhar’s espionage thriller Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Rampal plays Major Iqbal, the cunning mastermind orchestrating a fictional recreation of the 26/11 attacks. The most emotionally charged sequence for him was the recreation of the terror events, witnessed through the eyes of Ranveer Singh’s character, agent Hamza. Rampal described filming that scene as intensely triggering yet profoundly cathartic. “When Aditya Dhar narrated the 26/11 sequence to me, I knew I was going to have my revenge,” he revealed. “That’s exactly what I did with Dhurandhar.”
Finding Closure Through Cinema
By immersing himself in the role, Rampal transformed real-life trauma into a powerful on-screen act of retribution. He ended his heartfelt speech with a resounding “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” underscoring the patriotic undercurrent of the film and his personal journey toward healing. The revelation has added significant emotional weight to Dhurandhar’s success, resonating deeply with audiences who recognize the blend of real pain and cinematic justice.
-By Manoj H