The film Dhurandhar, a precursor to the box office hit Dhurandhar 2, recently made a significant impact at the Chetak Screen Awards 2026, securing a total of 14 accolades. Among these honors was the Best Costume Design award, presented to Smriti Chauhan for her work on Dhurandhar. In an interview following her victory, Chauhan discussed her design for one of the film’s standout scenes, in which Akshaye Khanna’s character receives the title of Sher-e-Baloch.
Chauhan explained to SCREEN, “The design had to be particularly striking because this moment depicts his crowning as Sher-e-Baloch. The director’s vision was clear: he needed to stand apart from the others in the scene. We decided on a unique color for him that wasn’t used by anyone else, which was black. Additionally, this scene marks the only instance in the film where Akshaye Khanna wears sunglasses, a choice we made on the spot.”
She further elaborated on her initial discussions with director Aditya Dhar, who emphasized the importance of establishing a unique visual narrative for the film. “During our first meeting, he distinctly stated that we were to create an entire world. We referenced real images from the internet to understand what Pakistan and Lyari look like, but we elevated the designs for our leading and supporting characters significantly. Our goal was to construct a believable yet distinct universe that would allow for an impactful Akshaye Khanna moment,” she noted.
Discussing the challenges she faced, Chauhan remarked, “We dealt with extensive action sequences and large crowd scenes, which required significantly more effort and were often unpredictable. When filming action, you can never anticipate what might be needed at any given moment. It was also crucial to ensure that the crowd appeared authentic, as the camera could move in any direction.”
Meanwhile, director Aditya Dhar has been actively expressing his gratitude towards his team on X, acknowledging everyone from the cinematographer and editor to the music composer, hairstylists, and now the costume designer. On Friday morning, he shared a heartfelt message dedicated to Smriti Chauhan.
In his post, Dhar reminisced about one of their initial discussions regarding the character development of Ranveer Singh’s role. He wrote, “I still vividly recall our early conversation about how Jaskirat begins with a hint of color, while by the conclusion, Hamza is nearly enveloped in darkness. The gradual departure of color from his life is subtle and unnoticeable. At that moment, it was merely a fleeting thought, a slightly eccentric idea I shared with you. But you embraced it, and that’s when I realized your potential.”
Dhar also noted that Chauhan had expressed some reservations about taking on such a large-scale project, although he believed she was the perfect fit for the role. “While you kept saying, ‘Adi Sir, I’m not sure I’m the right person for this,’ I was thinking, ‘That’s exactly why you are.’ You arrived without preconceived notions. You didn’t come with a rigid idea of what this world should look like. Your honesty and tenacity were evident, and you ultimately exceeded expectations in incredible ways,” he remarked.
Highlighting the magnitude of her contributions, he added, “Who else could create 10,000 costumes for a film and nearly 1,000 Pathani outfits in just the first month, while still focusing on the intricate details of a button on a junior artist’s cuff? Who designs over 250 looks for Hamza and loses sleep over whether the ring on his little finger conveys the right emotion? Who manages thousands of accessories over a year and a half of shooting while maintaining the enthusiasm as if it were day one? Only you.”
Before concluding, Aditya Dhar praised Smriti Chauhan’s invaluable presence on set, stating, “You are the most supportive and generous individual on set. Always available, always contributing, and consistently smiling amid the chaos—even on days when I know you were frustrated with many of us. What you created wasn’t just costumes; you built a world, a language, and an identity that resonates through every frame of Dhurandhar.”
Dhurandhar is a two-part epic spy action film directed by Aditya Dhar, featuring a star-studded cast that includes Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun.
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