Mumbai, Nov. 26 -- Arjun Rampal celebrates his birthday today, and fittingly, the actor stands on the brink of what might be one of the most blistering performances of his career. With Jio Studios and B62 Studios Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, Rampal steps into a space audiences haven't seen him inhabit in a long time -- brutal, unflinching, and chillingly unpredictable. His character, Major Iqbal is introduced to the world as the ominous "Angel of Death" and it has already sent a ripple through fans the moment the first look dropped. The cigar, the heavy beard, the dead-calm menace in his eyes. this is Rampal designed to intimidate.

But what makes it hard-hitting is the energy. There's a simmering cruelty, and that's what makes Ma...