Danish Iqbal sits in a makeup chair for nine hours straight. No food. No breaks. Just prosthetics, makeup, and the slow transformation into one of India's most dangerous underworld figures. This is how Preetisheel Singh, the makeup artist behind Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, turned a Bollywood actor into “Bade Saab” — the character inspired by Dawood Ibrahim. The spy thriller starring Ranveer Singh has already crossed ₹1,796 crore at the worldwide box office, and now that it has landed on Netflix internationally, more people than ever want to know: how did they make Danish Iqbal look so unrecognizable?
- 9-hour makeup process: Danish Iqbal spent nearly a full day in the makeup chair daily, without eating, to portray “Bade Saab”
- Prosthetic transformation: Preetisheel Singh used detailed prosthetics and makeup techniques to make the actor look like Dawood Ibrahim
- Box office success: Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge earned ₹1,796 crore worldwide, making it a massive hit
- Netflix international release: The film is already streaming on Netflix globally, with a JioHotstar India release coming soon
- Character name: The character is called “Bade Saab” in the film, not named directly after any real person
- Director Aditya Dhar: The thriller was directed by Aditya Dhar, known for high-action spy dramas
The Nine-Hour Makeup Secret Nobody Talks About
Most people think movie makeup is quick. Slap it on, shoot the scene, done. But creating a character like Dawood Ibrahim? That takes patience. That takes pain. Danish Iqbal would arrive on set at 5 AM. By 2 PM, he would finally be ready to film. The makeup chair became his second home during production.
Preetisheel Singh, the makeup artist who has worked on blockbuster Bollywood films, had one job: make people believe. “When you are creating a character inspired by a real, dangerous person, you cannot get it wrong,” Singh explained in recent interviews. Every wrinkle mattered. Every scar meant something. The makeup was not just about looking different — it was about becoming a different person entirely.
Think about it this way. If you put on glasses and a fake mustache, people might not recognize you for five minutes. But if you are an actor who needs to fool an entire audience for two and a half hours, sitting in a dark theater? You need more than a disguise. You need transformation.
Breaking Down the Makeup Technique Step by Step
So what exactly goes into nine hours of makeup work? The process has several layers, and each one serves a purpose.
- Base skin preparation: The face gets cleaned and prepped with special products so the prosthetics stick properly and do not damage the actor's real skin
- Prosthetic pieces: Individual silicone pieces — cheeks, nose, chin, forehead — get carefully attached with special glue, creating an entirely new facial structure
- Blending and sculpting: The makeup artist blends where each piece meets the real skin, so there are no visible seams or edges that audiences can see
- Color correction: Different makeup shades get applied to create age spots, scars, and the weathered look of someone who has lived a hard life
- Hair and details: A wig, fake beard, or hair styling completes the look, along with fake teeth if needed for the character
- Final touch-ups: Throughout the day on set, the makeup artist stays nearby to fix any smudges or areas that need refreshing between scenes
The challenge? Keeping this makeup intact while an actor moves, speaks, sweats, and performs intense scenes. The makeup cannot crack. It cannot peel. It cannot look fake under camera lights. That is the difference between good makeup and great makeup.
Why This Look Matters for the Film
Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is a spy thriller. The plot centers on crime, danger, and shadowy figures. If audiences do not believe the actor looks like the character he is supposed to play, the entire movie falls apart. The makeup is not a costume choice — it is central to the storytelling.
When Ranveer Singh's character comes face to face with “Bade Saab,” the audience needs to see a real threat. A character who has survived decades in the underworld. Someone powerful, feared, and dangerous. Danish Iqbal's performance sells this idea, but the makeup backs it up visually. Without Preetisheel Singh's work, the scene would feel like a regular actor playing dress-up.
This is why the film has earned ₹1,796 crore worldwide. Audiences feel the movie is real because every detail — including the makeup — feels authentic. The box office does not lie. When people pay ₹300-500 for a theater ticket in India, they want to believe what they are watching.
What Danish Iqbal Had to Sacrifice
Here is the part that most movie fans do not think about. Nine hours without food. Without water. Without being able to move freely or scratch your face or adjust your clothes. The prosthetics cover your real face, so you cannot feel anything underneath. Your breathing changes. Your facial expressions are limited.
For an actor, this is torture. You are sitting in a chair, uncomfortable, unable to eat, while someone works on your face for hours. By hour six, you are hungry. By hour eight, your patience is tested. But Danish Iqbal did this every single day that he had a scene as “Bade Saab.”
Why? Because that is what professionals do. That is what separates a decent performance from a memorable one. The actor suffered so that when you watch the film, you see a seamless character. You forget you are watching an actor. You just see the criminal mastermind on screen.
How Dhurandhar 2 Became a Box Office Giant
Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is not a small film. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the man behind Uri: The Surgical Strike, this movie had expectations from day one. Ranveer Singh carries the film as the main spy, but Danish Iqbal's character steals scenes. That is the mark of strong casting and stronger performance work.
The film crossed ₹1,796 crore worldwide — that is ₹1.796 trillion rupees. To put that in perspective, that amount could pay the annual salary of 1 lakh government teachers for over 12 years. Or it could fund mid-day meals for 5 crore schoolchildren for one full year.
Now the film is on Netflix internationally, which means it reaches audiences who never stepped into a theater. A JioHotstar India release is coming next. When these streaming releases happen, even more people will discover Danish Iqbal's transformation. The makeup work will get discussed again and again across social media, YouTube, and WhatsApp groups.
The Craft Behind Movie Magic
Most audiences never think about the makeup artist. They focus on the lead actor, the director, the music, the action sequences. But if you watch Dhurandhar 2 and think “that actor really looks like a crime boss,” you are actually thinking about Preetisheel Singh.
This is a skill that takes years to master. You have to understand human anatomy — where muscles sit under the skin, how age changes bone structure, what scars look like from different distances. You have to understand color theory, so makeup does not look muddy or fake under professional lighting. You have to work fast and stay calm while an actor sits in front of you, uncomfortable and impatient.
Preetisheel Singh has done this for major Bollywood films. The makeup work in Dhurandhar 2 is not her first rodeo, but it might be her most talked-about transformation. Why? Because audiences genuinely cannot believe it is Danish Iqbal under all that makeup. That is the ultimate compliment in this business.
What This Means for Bollywood Filmmaking
The success of Dhurandhar 2 shows something important: Indian audiences care about quality. They will pay ₹400-500 per ticket if the movie feels professional and believable. The makeup work, the acting, the direction, the production design — all of it matters.
For a decade, Bollywood relied on songs, romance, and spectacle. Now filmmakers like Aditya Dhar are proving that spy thrillers with solid craft can also hit massive box office numbers. The makeup is part of that craft. So is the acting. So is every detail.
If you are a young actor trying to make it in Bollywood, what does Dhurandhar 2's success tell you? Be willing to sit in a makeup chair for nine hours. Be willing to suffer for your art. Be willing to be unrecognizable. That is how you create something people remember.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dhurandhar 2's Makeup and Danish Iqbal's Character
How long did Danish Iqbal spend in makeup for the Dawood Ibrahim character?
Simply put, the actor spent nine hours in the makeup chair every day he had scenes as “Bade Saab.” This included base preparation, prosthetic application, blending, color work, and final detailing. He would arrive early morning and not finish until afternoon, without eating during the process to avoid disrupting the makeup.
What materials did Preetisheel Singh use to create the prosthetic makeup?
The makeup artist used silicone prosthetic pieces for facial features like cheeks, nose, and chin, combined with special adhesives and blending techniques. Layered makeup in different shades created aging effects and realistic scars. Each prosthetic piece was carefully sculpted before application to match the desired character appearance perfectly.
Why is the makeup so important in Dhurandhar 2?
In a spy thriller, audiences need to believe the character poses a real threat. The makeup transforms Danish Iqbal so completely that viewers see a dangerous crime boss, not an actor in costume. This visual authenticity strengthens the film's storytelling and creates immersion that keeps audiences invested in the plot.
How much money did Dhurandhar 2 make at the box office?
The film earned ₹1,796 crore worldwide, making it a massive commercial success. This total includes theatrical collections across India and international markets. The box office success proves that audiences appreciated every aspect of the production, including the makeup work and performances by the entire cast.
Where can I watch Dhurandhar 2 right now?
The film is currently available on Netflix internationally for streaming. In India, the movie will soon release on JioHotstar. If you want to watch the theatrical version with better picture and sound quality, check local cinema halls where it may still be running in select locations.
What to Watch For Next
Keep an eye on when Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge releases on JioHotstar in India. That is when the movie will reach tens of millions more viewers across the country. When that happens, interviews with Preetisheel Singh about the makeup work will likely resurface across YouTube and social media.
Also watch for whether this success leads to more spy thrillers with similar production values. If audiences continue to embrace films with strong craft and realistic makeup work, we will see more directors investing in this kind of detail-oriented filmmaking. The makeup industry in Bollywood could expand significantly if this trend continues.
And here is something personal to watch: Danish Iqbal's next film. Will he work with Preetisheel Singh again? Will other actors push for similar transformation roles? The success of his Dawood Ibrahim character shows that audiences are hungry for performances that disappear completely into character work. That is the future of serious Indian cinema.
