Aditya Uppal’s portrayal of ASP Omar Haider has been at the center of this attention, earning him both acclaim and controversy. The actor recently revealed in an interview with DNA that his character was inspired by a real-life officer, Omar Shahid Hamid. Uppal also shared that he discovered Hamid had visited his Instagram profile, a moment he described as both surprising and humbling. “I got to know that he has visited my Instagram profile. But I didn’t want to disturb his privacy, so I never went ahead and interacted with him socially,” he said.
Adding to the excitement, Uppal noticed that his name had appeared on Hamid’s Wikipedia page under the popular culture section—a recognition he called “a big moment” in his career.
The film’s impact has extended beyond India. Uppal revealed that he has received messages from Pakistan and the UAE, some of which were intimidating. “Pakistan se mujhe darawane messages bhi aa rahe hai. Kai log keh rahe hai ki 'tujhe maar denge. Milega toh chhodenge nahi'. Main kai logo ko bata raha hu ki 'main ek actor hoon'. But you can't reply to everyone,” he said.
Despite this, Uppal has also received appreciation and support. He mentioned that a Pakistani-born executive based in Dubai connected him with Omar Hamid, who even tagged Uppal in posts. Uppal praised Hamid as “the only intelligent man in Pakistan,” highlighting the mutual respect between the real-life inspiration and the actor portraying him.
In Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Uppal’s character follows the rise of Hamza in Karachi’s Lyari underworld and his early journey into espionage. The film features a star-studded cast, including Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, and Rakesh Bedi, and has achieved remarkable box office success, earning nearly ₹1,000 crore worldwide.
Uppal’s performance demonstrates how a compelling portrayal can transcend the screen, generating international attention and sparking conversations that go far beyond the cinema hall.
