EXCLUSIVE: ‘Uzair Baloch’ Danish Pandor REACTS To 26/11 Original Audio Recordings, Creation Of Lyari, Pakistan For Dhurandhar; Says, “Kitni Dehshat Waali…”

Portraying a character rooted in real-life conflict is never easy, especially when the narrative intersects with one of India’s most painful chapters. In Dhurandhar, which has emerged as a mega-hit worldwide, Danish Pandor steps into the complex role of Uzair Baloch, a character shaped by violence, ideology, and moral ambiguity. One of the film’s most haunting sequences involves the use of original 26/11 Mumbai terror attack audio recordings, a creative choice that left both audiences and the cast deeply shaken.

In an exclusive conversation, Danish opened up about the emotional toll of shooting those scenes, the heavy silence that followed on set, and the responsibility of balancing personal emotion with professional commitment. He also revealed how the makers recreated Lyari, Karachi, with startling authenticity. Read on to know more.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jio Studios (@officialjiostudios)

Danish Pandor Shares, “You Feel Disheartened And Terrible About What Happened On 26/11”

Recalling the day the cast was made to listen to the original 26/11 audio recordings during the shoot, Danish described the experience as overwhelming. He shared that when the recordings were played, all the key characters, Major Iqbal, Rehman Dakait, Hamza, Uzair, Aazam Chima, Putto, and Javed Khanani, were present on set, making the moment even heavier. “Bohot mushkil ho jaata hai… jab hume wo voice note sunaya gaya tha, us waqt you feel very disheartened and very terrible about whatever happened 26/11,” he said.

Danish explained that until that point, the tragedy had largely been processed through a media lens. “Hum ek media ke perspective se cheeze dekh rahe the, hume andaaza nahi tha andar kya ho raha hai, kya baat cheet ho rahi hai,” he reflected.“Voice note me jab aapko terrorists aur handlers ke beech ki baat cheet sunai deti hai, aur peeche se firing ki awaaz aati hai, tab aapko mehsoos hota hai andar jo log maujood honge unke liye kitni dehshat waali cheez thi.”

He added that no outsider can fully comprehend the fear experienced by the hostages and staff trapped inside. “As a third-person perspective hum poori tarah se fathom nahi kar sakte ki andar jo hostages baithe honge unke mann mein kya beet rahi hogi,” he said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Saregama India (@saregama_official)

Danish Pandor Shares, “There Was Pin Drop Silence On The Set”

The impact of the audio recordings was immediate and palpable. Once the playback ended, the set fell into an eerie stillness. “Jab hume ye sunaya gaya tab it was pin drop silence at that point of time, for a long time,” Danish recalled.

“As an Indian citizen, you are proud to be an Indian citizen, aur jab ye cheez hoti hai toh itna bura lagta hai,” he shared. Yet, portraying Uzair Baloch demanded emotional discipline. “At the same time, I am playing Uzair Baloch, so as an actor, it is very important to switch on and switch off. Agar aap usi feeling mein reh jaoge, toh aap apne character ko justify nahi kar paoge aur screen par wo abrupt lagega.”

Recreating Lyari: “You Won’t Believe What They Built”

Beyond its emotional weight, Dhurandhar has also been praised for its authenticity, especially the recreation of Lyari, Karachi. Danish revealed that the Pakistan-based location was actually built in Thailand. “Sabse pehle humne Thailand mein shuruat ki thi, ek 6 acre ke plot mein poori tarah Lyari ka set up kiya gaya tha,” he said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Saini S Johray (@sainisjohray)

He credited production designer Saini Johray and his team for their extraordinary attention to detail. “Unhone Lyari ke videos dekh kar har detail pe kaam kiya, ki Karachi kis tarah dikhti hai,” he explained. “Mujhe laga Bangkok mein shoot samajh nahi aa raha, lekin jab main Lyari ke set mein enter kiya, toh main bola, ‘yaar ye kya bana diya hai.’” Describing the scale, he added, “Aapko hairat ho jaayegi, 6 acre mein poori duniya khadi kar di thi. Aapko yakeen hi nahi hoga. Kudos to the production design team.”

Through Dhurandhar, Danish Pandor didn’t just portray Uzair Baloch; he stepped into a morally unsettling space where national trauma, personal emotion, and cinematic responsibility collided. From standing in silence after listening to the haunting 26/11 recordings to walking through a meticulously recreated Lyari thousands of miles away from Pakistan, his journey reflects the emotional cost of telling stories inspired by real events. As Dhurandhar continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, Danish’s words offer a rare, fragile glimpse into the intensity behind bringing such realities to the screen.

Watch Full Interview Here:

For more news and updates from the entertainment world, stay tuned to Bollywood Bubble.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: ‘Uzair Baloch’ Danish Pandor REACTS To ‘Rehman Dakait’ Akshaye Khanna’s Viral Dance Moment From Dhurandhar; Says, “Bilkul Andaaza Nahi Tha Ki…”

Varsha Tiwari

Varsha Tiwari is a budding content writer passionate about Bollywood, pop culture, and the stories behind the spotlight. She enjoys breaking down trends, celebrity moments, and film narratives into engaging, reader-friendly content. Always curious and observant, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Communication and Journalism. Outside of writing, she enjoys painting because storytelling doesn’t always need words to make an impact.