Saumya Tandon, known for her roles in Indian television, is generating buzz for her intense character in the recently released action thriller, Dhurandhar. The film, which hit theaters on December 5, 2025, features a star-studded cast including Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna. Tandon plays Ulfat, the wife of Rehman Dakait, a notorious criminal portrayed by Akshaye Khanna.
Tandon expressed her excitement about working with Akshaye Khanna, calling it a "cherry on top" to be cast as his wife. She has admired Khanna's work for a long time and was awed by his performance on set. She admitted feeling nervous about holding her own in scenes with such a talented actor, who she considers a "complete scene-stealer". She also visited the Wagah Border and Golden Temple in Amritsar with Akshaye Khanna.
Dhurandhar is directed, written, and co-produced by Aditya Dhar. Tandon stated that she accepted the role because she had always wanted to work with Aditya Dhar, referring to him as a "Dhurandhar" himself. Although her role is small, she describes it as one of the most intense she has ever taken on. Tandon is known for her cheerful and lively characters, so this role will be a departure from her previous work.
In an interview, Tandon revealed that all her scenes in Dhurandhar are with either Akshaye Khanna or Ranveer Singh. She also praised Ranveer Singh's performance in the film, calling it his best work to date.
Dhurandhar is inspired by real-life incidents, geopolitical conflicts, and covert operations involving India's intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), and local gangs in Karachi, Pakistan. The movie has received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, who have praised the performances of the cast, direction, cinematography, and music. However, some critics have pointed out the film's lengthy runtime, uneven pacing, and occasional narrative inconsistencies. The film has a runtime of 214 minutes and has been given an A (adults only) certificate by the CBFC for strong violence.
The film stars Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi. The supporting cast includes Manav Gohil, Danish Pandor, Gaurav Gera, and Naveen Kaushik. Ranveer Singh plays a RAW agent, while Madhavan is reportedly playing National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Dutt's character is based on Pakistani police officer Chaudhry Aslam Khan, and Rampal's character is based on Pakistani militant Ilyas Kashmiri.
Saumya Tandon's role as Ulfat adds another layer to the film's complex narrative. Her collaboration with Akshaye Khanna is highly anticipated, and her portrayal of an intense character is expected to be a departure from her previous roles.
