With the countdown to March 19, word of this Bollywood gossip mill is running strong. The epicenter of the storm is the identity of “Bade Saab,” the legendary but shadowy puppet-master mentioned in the first Dhurandhar movie. And that megastar Salman Khan's mysterious personality will be unveiled as this elusive kingpin within the follow-up, creating what could very well be the biggest crossover in Indian cinema since at least 20 years.
The Viral “Leaked” Photos: Real or AI?
This week, speculation levels hit a zenith when glossy "leaked" pictures of Salman Khan on a film set began circulating on X (which used to be Twitter) and Instagram. In the images, Salman is seen in a commanding, rough-hewn underworld avatar, alongside Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal.
Yet fact-checkers and eagle-eyed viewers have rapidly added that these images are most likely made by AI. The visuals were created with the help of a popular AI artist, and while they still seem incredibly credible to the eye, neither Jio Studios nor director Aditya Dhar has yet substantiated Salman’s participation. Although the photos are so “fake”, we feel there’s much for the audience to really wait to see "Bhaijaan" in this dark, dirty spy world.
Teaser Controversy: "Scam" or Strategic Marketing?
The official teaser was released for Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge on February 3, 2026. It featured a scary looking Ranveer Singh (Hamza Ali Mazari) causing havoc on the road as he roamed the streets of Lyari, but disappointment remained among some fans.
The teaser, for the most part, was post-credits footage already found at the end of the first one, so many viewers felt “scammed.” Advocates of the director say it’s a classic Aditya Dhar move keeping the plot in tight molds in the theaters to maximize its impact. The only “new” one was a high-octane background score with Doja Cat’s most recent song, adding extra sharp momentum to the second film, giving the sequel a more global edge.
Cast and Cameos
And while Salman Khan's appearance is yet to be revealed, other details on the cast come to light.
- The Core Team: Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal reprise their high-stakes roles.
- The Return of Yami: As confirmed by a big reveal, this year it's been revealed that Yami Gautam appeared as "a vital and action-packed" cameo that will bridge the gap between the two films.
- New Faces: Young star Sara Arjun is likely to play a more prominent role in the sequel’s story.
Box Office Expectations
After the first Dhurandhar set records, breaking records with over ₹1,000 crore global haul, a sequel is touted to be a juggernaut. It’ll come out in five different languages Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam concurrent with the festival season of Gudi Padwa and Ugadi.
If news spread that Salman Khan has been confirmed it’s hard not to worry, trade observers indicate that the film can push the country’s all-time opening day records in India to new highs. Fans, for now, will have to wait until March 19 to see if "Bade Saab" has the face of the Tiger.
