Actor and celebrity fitness coach Mustafa Ahmed, who plays the pivotal role of the Indian spy Rizwan in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, has hit back at critics labeling the film as “propaganda.”
In a recent video interview, Ahmed defended director Aditya Dhar’s vision, arguing that if the film had a narrow political agenda, the casting choices would have reflected that. “If this were about propaganda, [Aditya Dhar] could have cast a ‘Mahesh’ or a ‘Mukesh’ instead of me,” Ahmed stated, highlighting his own identity as a counterpoint to the allegations.
Ahmed, known for training stars like Ranveer Singh and Vicky Kaushal before making his acting debut, emphasized that “one man’s propaganda is another man’s agenda,” noting that he approached the role with pure intentions. He firmly rejected the notion that he compromised his integrity or “sold his soul” for fame, asserting that he never encountered anything on set that felt morally or ethically incorrect.
To portray the physically imposing Rizwan, Ahmed underwent a significant transformation, bulking up from 80 kg to nearly 86 kg. Despite the film’s massive box-office success—crossing ₹575 crore in less than a week—it has faced polarized reactions online, with some viewers praising its scale and others, including digital creator Dhruv Rathee, dismissing it as “well-made propaganda.” Ahmed maintains that the cast’s dedication and the film’s narrative should be judged on their artistic merit rather than political leanings.