New DelhiIn movies, wardrobe decisions are often influenced by psychology, power, ancestry, and mood rather than just clothing. The real-life example is "Dhurandhar," where Divani's designers, in close collaboration with costume designer Smriti Chauhan, created an aesthetically pleasing world in which each stitch carried the weight of the narrative driven by power. Their work on Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, and others demonstrates how costume can enhance a character long before a word is spoken.
The wedding sequence costumes worn by Arjun Rampal, Akshaye Khanna, and Ranveer Singh in "Dhurandhar" are unquestionably iconic. Let's dissect the appearances.
Arjun Rampal as Major Iqbal: Accuracy, moderation, and subdued power
As Major Iqbal, Arjun Rampal never needs loudness to stand out, and his attire reflects this. Elegance is also subtly reflected in his sense.
"For Arjun Rampal as Major Iqbal, the idea was to keep his look sharp, clean, and understated, reflecting the composure of his character," states Divani's official Instagram account. His presence was allowed to speak for itself because the colors and silhouettes were kept simple. In order to preserve a crisp, subtle look, the embroidery was purposefully limited to the collar.
The subdued color scheme, the orderly layout, and the almost military clarity of the lines are all deliberate. As a result, the image stabilizes the frame rather than yelling. The calm that precedes the storm is symbolized by Major Iqbal's uniform, which is an extension of his poise.
Rehman Dakait, played by Akshaye Khanna: controlled unpredictability and textured darkness
Akshaye Khanna's Rehman Dakait is the undercurrent—quiet, erratic, and eerily alluring—if Rampal's Iqbal is the stillness. Divani used that electricity as the foundation for his wardrobe.
Akshaye Khanna's appearance as Rehman Dakait was designed to convey his unadulterated authority and quiet intensity. His world's grind was reflected in the palette's deep textures. His presence and the character's underlying unpredictability were allowed to speak for themselves because the embellishments were kept simple and intentional, limited to a striking crest with a tiger motif.
The tiger crest, a symbolic flash of danger against an otherwise subdued color scheme, is the lone exception to restraint. While the minimalism maintains the emphasis on Akshaye's renownedly expressive stillness, the textures give the clothing weight and ground Rehman in the world he controls.
Ranveer Singh as Hamza Ali Mazari: A contemporary epic that reimagines tradition
In contrast, Ranveer Singh's Hamza Ali Mazari arrives in Dhurandhar wrapped in heritage rather than a costume. For inspiration, Divani and Smriti Chauhan looked to royal robes from the nineteenth century.
Divani and "Dhurandar's" costume designer Smriti Chauhan reimagined a "khilat" that had previously been given to the Patiala royal family, drawing inspiration from the ornate robes of the nineteenth century. It feels both significant and naturally integrated into the narrative, almost as if it were designed specifically for Hamza. The style combines tradition and purpose.
This is narratively deep couture, the kind that lets you know right away a character's origins and traits. The reinterpretation gains theatrical ease on Ranveer: reverent but contemporary, elaborate but never overpowering, a garment that appears inherited rather than manufactured. A world constructed with fabric, attention to detail, and purpose. When taken as a whole, these three outfits highlight the narrative potential of well-considered menswear. A subtle, powerful, and intensely cinematic visual triad is created by Major Iqbal's restraint, Rehman Dakait's shadowed grit, and Hamza Mazari's regal heritage. The clothing in Dhurandhar serves more purposes than just supporting the characters.
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