Mukesh Chhabra explains why Dhurandhar cast Sara Arjun alongside Ranveer Singh despite their 20-year age gap, highlighting artistic reasoning and narrative needs.

One casting decision in Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller Dhurandhar instantly sparked internet discussion when it was originally revealed. The movie’s pairing of 20-year-old actor Sara Arjun with Ranveer Singh, who turned 40 this year, raised concerns on social media regarding the two leads’ roughly two-decade age difference. Before the movie’s premiere, a lot of internet users were skeptical, but once Dhurandhar opened in theaters, viewership drastically shifted.

The surprising on-screen chemistry between Ranveer and Sara was praised by many, raising questions about how and why the casting choice was made. The casting director of the movie, Mukesh Chhabra, has now responded to the controversy by providing an explanation of the artistic rationale behind the selection of Sara Arjun from a large pool of candidates.

Mukesh Chhabra on Casting Sara Arjun: “We Wanted Someone Completely Fresh”

Mukesh Chhabra clarified that the casting of Dhurandhar was motivated by the need to create an authentic cinematic world rather than adhering to preconceived rules in a recent interview with the Free Press Journal. “I am very happy that a lot of directors, including Aditya, are now giving more chances to newcomers,” he remarked in reference to Sara Arjun’s pick. According to my theory, we are building the entire planet. Since we are using surprise casting, this female ought to look brand new.

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Chhabra disclosed that the team purposefully sought a fresh viewpoint despite Sara’s prior expertise as a kid actor. “We wanted to give a fresh approach, even though she has been a child actor and has acted in a few films as a child actor,” he continued.

Selected Out of 1,300 Audits

Before Sara stood out among the other 1,300 girls who tried out for the part, Mukesh added. He had known her for years, and when she tried out, he saw unrealized promise. “I noticed the latent talent beneath her charming face when she conducted the audition. You will witness her incredible acting skills in part 2. He hinted at a more nuanced performance in the follow-up when he added, “You will be surprised.”

According to Chhabra, the age gap was “needed in the film.”

Mukesh addressed the age-gap issue head-on, explaining that the choice was based on the narrative. “No, my brief was quite clear. The plot revolves around his (Ranveer) attempt to trap her (Sara). Therefore, he clarified, “We knew that we wanted a young girl who is 20-21 years old.”

He continued by saying that after the sequel is released, the age discrepancy controversy will make sense. “And whoever is discussing the age gap will have all the answers when part 2 arrives. However, this (age gap) was necessary for the movie,” he stated, adding that not all artistic decisions can be predetermined.

With the theatrical premiere of Dhurandhar: Part 2 scheduled for March 19, 2026, viewers are now excited to see how the story further supports the much-discussed casting decision.