Few films in recent years have blended scale, secrecy, and global movement quite like Dhurandhar. The political-action spectacle, directed by Aditya Dhar, doesn’t simply unfold across borders – it feels
like a journey, shifting climates, cultures, and geographies as quickly as its protagonists navigate moral grey zones. While the plot follows covert operatives navigating high-risk intelligence missions, the production mirrors that very intrigue, hopping between countries, guarded sets, and culturally dense Indian cities that lend the film its smoky realism.
For travellers and cinephiles alike, Dhurandhar offers a fascinating map – a behind-the-scenes itinerary tracing where its most explosive, emotional and atmospheric scenes were built.
Bangkok: Dhurandhar’s First Mission Base
The journey begins in Bangkok. Chosen for its chameleon-like cityscape, the Thai capital stands in for multiple narrative settings, including sequences originally meant to depict Pakistan’s intelligence corridors. Narrow alleys, neon-lit streets, bustling markets, and waterfront edges all come together to reflect the film’s gritty espionage universe. Thailand’s controlled environment and cinematic flexibility allowed Dhar to capture fast-paced chase scenes and covert operations without relying on heavy CGI – anchoring Dhurandhar in tangible reality.
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Amritsar: The Cultural Heartbeat
From Southeast Asia, the crew travelled to Amritsar. Filming near the Golden Temple offered a spiritual counterpoint to the film’s tense narrative. The city, with its devotional soundscape and radiant gold architecture, lent emotional grounding to sequences exploring the protagonist’s early life and formative moments. For travellers, this is where Dhurandhar becomes almost meditative: Punjab’s warmth contrasts with the protagonist’s turbulent internal journey.
Mumbai: Studios, Streets, And High-Intensity Set Pieces
Tahe production also shifted to Mumbai’s Filmistan Studios, a space steeped in Hindi cinema history. Built in 1943, its vintage soundstages hosted elaborate indoor sequences, dramatic interrogations, and large-scale sets designed to mimic international safehouses.
The travel trail extends to:
Madh Island: A cluster of fishing villages and farmlands north of the city, Madh Island offered isolation and raw landscapes ideal for dramatic outdoor stunts. Several high-intensity moments were completed here, making it an unassuming but crucial backdrop.
Dombivli-Mankoli Bridge: The production filmed some of the film’s biggest action sequences on this industrial bridge linking Dombivli and Bhiwandi. The stark structure doubled as the perfect setting for confrontations, ambushes, and chase shots.
Golden Tobacco Factory, Vile Parle: The abandoned factory, with its cavernous architecture and historic decay, hosted a stylised dance sequence in July 2025 – adding an unexpected layer of retro-industrial charm to the film’s visual palette.
Khera Village, Ludhiana
A viral behind-the-scenes clip revealed that Dhurandhar filming in Khera village transformed into a Pakistani neighbourhood. Mud homes, narrow terraces and local textures created an eerily authentic environment.
What Dhurandhar ultimately offers is not just a high-stakes narrative but a travel diary stitched into every frame. From Bangkok’s frenetic edges to Punjab’s sacred calm, from Mumbai’s industrial bones to coastal isolation, every location amplifies the story.
