R Madhavan Reveals How Unexpected Rain Altered Dhurandhar Opening Scene

Actor R Madhavan, who played intelligence officer Ajay Sanyal in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, recently revealed an interesting behind-the-scenes anecdote from the film’s shoot. Taking to Instagram on Monday, Madhavan shared a throwback video from Leh and Ladakh, where the team was filming one of the movie’s most crucial sequences and how the weather had other plans.

Posting a clip of gloomy skies and persistent rain, Madhavan explained that he was jokingly called the “rainman” on set because rain seemed to follow him everywhere. The actor revealed that while the scene was initially imagined very differently, the unexpected change ultimately worked in the film’s favour.

How rain changed Dhurandhar’s opening scene

Giving fans a glimpse of the dramatic landscape, Madhavan said in the video, “Oh,

the beautiful Leh and Ladakh! It was supposed to be a sunny day, but as luck would have it, I brought in the rains wherever I go, apparently. We are shooting the scene without the sun and in the rain. Hopefully, it will occur as good luck for the film. What a beautiful place, my God!”

The actor explained that the sequence in question was the film’s opening scene, where his character Ajay Sanyal lands in Afghanistan to engage with terrorists. The original plan, however, was very different from what audiences eventually saw on screen.

What went against Aditya Dhar’s original vision

In the caption accompanying the video, Madhavan revealed how the weather disrupted director Aditya Dhar’s carefully planned visual contrast. “#Dhurandhar. Aditya had always imagined this to be a bright sunny day with blue skies to show the contrast between the beauty and the beast inside the plane. As luck could have it, I brought in the rain because I was referred to as the rainman on the set,” he wrote.

He further added that the constant downpour became a running joke during the shoot. “Every time I came onto the set, there was torrential rain. But these grey skies and the look worked out perfectly for the first shot. Sometimes it’s best to go with what is handed to you because a bigger design is in place (hug face, raised hands and red heart emojis),” Madhavan shared.

Fans were quick to react to the post, praising both the scene and the actor’s screen presence. One comment read, “The opening scene makes the movie something epic.. The encounter between the Indian Intelligence Head and The Terrorists. Your fearless body language. Magnificent acting @actormaddy sir.” Another wrote, “You (@actormaddy ) + airport/runway opening scene = Congratulations! The movie is a hit!” while a fan added, “The God of rains shows His Benevolence on the chosen ones.”

Dhurandhar, which released in theatres on December 5, features an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal and Rakesh Bedi. The film began streaming on Netflix on January 30, with its sequel slated for a theatrical release on March 19. Set against major geopolitical events such as the Kandahar hijack and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the film is produced by B62 Studios and Jio Studios.