If you have recently walked out of a cinema hall, adrenaline pumping, after watching Aditya Dhar’s spy-thriller Dhurandhar, you are likely asking one question: Was that real? Did an Indian spy really infiltrate a terror outfit, grow a beard, and live among them like a wolf in sheep’s clothing? The answer is a bone-chilling yes.
- Biographical Data Table
- Early Life: The Engineer Who Chose the Gun
- The “Iftikhar Bhatt” Deception: A Masterclass in Acting
- The Real Dhurandhar Cast: Who is Who?
- Martyrdom: The Lion of Kupwara
- Controversies: The Battle Over a Legacy
- Personal Life & Philosophy
- Legacy and Current Status
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
While Ranveer Singh’s character “Hamza” might be a cinematic amalgamation, the soul of the story belongs to Major Mohit Sharma, an Ashoka Chakra awardee whose life script was far more dramatic than anything Bollywood could conjure. But he isn’t the only one; the movie is a cocktail of real-life legends including Ajit Doval and some notorious villains of the Karachi underworld.
In this biography, we strip away the cinematic gloss to reveal the raw, gritty, and often humorous reality of the man who lived—and died—as a legend.
Biographical Data Table
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Major Mohit Sharma |
| Nickname(s) | Chintu (Family), Mike (Army Callsign), Iftikhar Bhatt (Undercover Alias) |
| Date of Birth | January 13, 1978 |
| Place of Birth | Rohtak, Haryana, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Family Background | Father: Rajendra Prasad Sharma (Banker) Mother: Sushila Sharma Brother: Madhur Sharma Wife: Lt. Col. Rishma Sarin (Army Officer) |
| Early Life & Education | School: DPS Ghaziabad (1995) College: Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj College of Engineering (Dropped out) Military: National Defence Academy (NDA), Indian Military Academy (IMA) |
| Career Start | Commissioned into 5 Madras Regiment (December 11, 1999). First posting: Hyderabad. |
| Career Highlights | Infiltrating Hizbul Mujahideen as “Iftikhar Bhatt”; Killing 2 terrorists while undercover; Rescuing colleagues during the Kupwara encounter. |
| Notable Works | Operation Rakshak; Covert Ops in Kashmir; Inspiration for the movie Dhurandhar (2025). |
| Awards & Recognitions | Ashoka Chakra (Posthumous, 2010), Sena Medal (Gallantry, 2004), COAS Commendation Card. |
| Professional Roles | Indian Army Officer, Para Special Forces Commando (1 Para SF), Instructor at Commando Wing Belgaum. |
| Personal Life | Married to Rishma Sarin (now Lt. Col). They have two children. Loved playing the guitar and mouth organ. |
| Net Worth | N/A (His wealth was his bravery, though the movie rights dispute implies significant IP value). |
| Philanthropy & Social Impact | The Major Mohit Sharma Trust supports education and social causes. A metro station in Ghaziabad is named after him. |
| Public Image | Known as “The Wrath of God” in military lore; a symbol of unparalleled courage and tactical brilliance. |
| Challenges & Controversies | Legal Battle: His parents sued the makers of Dhurandhar claiming the film used his story without consent. Family Feud: Public dispute between his parents and his widow regarding Next of Kin (NOK) laws. |
| Personal Philosophy | “It is better to die for something than to live for nothing.” |
| Legacy | The “Iftikhar Bhatt” operation is a case study in military intelligence. Rajendra Nagar Metro Station was renamed in his honor. |
| Current Status | Martyred on March 21, 2009 in Hafruda Forest, Kupwara. |
| Social Media Presence | No personal accounts. Legacy maintained by fan pages and official Army handles. |
Early Life: The Engineer Who Chose the Gun
Mohit Sharma was not born with a gun in his hand, but he certainly had mischief in his heart. Born in Rohtak on January 13, 1978, he was the classic “Sharma Ji ka Beta” who defied the stereotype. Nicknamed ‘Chintu’, he was a talented musician who could play the guitar and mouth organ, often charming everyone at family gatherings.
His academic path seemed set in stone when he joined an engineering college in Maharashtra. It was the standard Indian middle-class dream: get a degree, get a job, get settled. But Mohit found engineering lectures about as exciting as watching paint dry. In a move that probably gave his parents a minor heart attack, he dropped out. Why debug code when you can debug the nation’s security threats? He cleared the NDA exam, proving that sometimes, quitting is the best way to win.
The “Iftikhar Bhatt” Deception: A Masterclass in Acting
If acting awards were given to spies, Mohit Sharma would have swept the Oscars. His most defining career highlight—and the core inspiration for Ranveer Singh’s character—was his undercover operation in 2004.
Major Mohit didn’t just spy; he transformed. He grew a beard, donned a Pheran, learnt the local Kashmiri dialect, and created an alter ego: Iftikhar Bhatt. His backstory? A disgruntled young man whose brother was “killed by the Indian Army” and who wanted revenge.
The acting was so convincing that he infiltrated the Hizbul Mujahideen. He didn’t just sit on the sidelines; he became an active member. The terrorists, usually paranoid, embraced him. He lived with them, ate with them, and probably had to listen to their propaganda without rolling his eyes—a feat of patience in itself.
The Climax:
One day, two top terrorists, Abu Torara and Abu Sabzar, were comfortable enough to let their guard down. Mohit saw his window. He dropped the act, pulled out his 9mm pistol, and dispatched both of them to the afterlife. It was a surgical strike before the term became a hashtag. This operation earned him the Sena Medal and cemented his reputation as a ghost who could walk through walls.
The Real Dhurandhar Cast: Who is Who?
While Major Mohit Sharma is the soul of the film, Dhurandhar is an ensemble piece. Here is the reality check on the other characters you saw on screen:
- Ranveer Singh as Hamza/Jaskirat: Based on Major Mohit Sharma. The undercover “Iftikhar Bhatt” arc is directly lifted from Sharma’s life, despite the filmmakers’ legal disclaimer calling it “fictional.”
- R. Madhavan as Ajay Sanyal: Based on Ajit Doval. The “Charioteer of Karma,” a master strategist who manipulates events from the shadows. Doval is India’s National Security Advisor and a former spy who famously lived undercover in Pakistan for seven years.
- Akshaye Khanna as Rehman Dakait: Based on Rehman Dakait (Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch). He was a legendary gangster in Karachi’s Lyari district, a Robin Hood figure to some and a monster to others, who played a key role in the gang wars.
- Sanjay Dutt as SP Chaudhary Aslam: Based on Chaudhry Aslam Khan. Known as Pakistan’s “toughest cop,” Aslam was a chain-smoking, encounter specialist who terrorized the Taliban until he was assassinated in 2014.
Martyrdom: The Lion of Kupwara
The end of Major Mohit Sharma’s story is not a tragedy; it is a thunderclap. In March 2009, he was posted in Kupwara. Intelligence reported terrorists hiding in the Hafruda forest. Major Mohit led the Bravo Assault Team.
During the tracking, the team walked into a deadly ambush. Terrorists opened fire from three sides. Mohit took a bullet to the chest. Most men would collapse. Mohit Sharma wasn’t most men.
Realizing his team was in a kill zone, he commanded them to fall back while he held the ground. Bleeding profusely, he crawled forward, threw grenades, and killed two more terrorists in close combat. He saved his comrades but lost his life. His last words weren’t a dramatic monologue; they were likely orders to save his boys. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in 2010.
Controversies: The Battle Over a Legacy
The release of Dhurandhar has reopened old wounds.
The Parents vs. The Filmmakers:
Major Mohit’s parents, Sushila and Rajendra Prasad Sharma, dragged the makers to the Delhi High Court. Their argument? “You are making crores off our son’s blood without our permission.” They wanted a stay on the release. The court, however, sided with the creative license argument, stating the film wasn’t a biopic in the strict sense.
The Next of Kin (NOK) Feud:
More heartbreaking is the family rift. Major Mohit’s parents have been vocal critics of the Army’s “Next of Kin” rules. Currently, financial benefits and official honors go to the widow (Lt. Col. Rishma Sarin). The parents claim they were sidelined, not even invited properly to the Ashoka Chakra ceremony. It’s a messy, human aftermath to a heroic life, proving that while soldiers fight enemies on the border, their families often fight battles of grief and bureaucracy at home.
Personal Life & Philosophy
Mohit was not a grim killing machine. He was a husband and a father. He married Rishma Sarin, who is a formidable figure herself. Today, she is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army, continuing the legacy of the uniform. They had two children who grew up hearing stories of a father who was a real-life superhero.
His philosophy was simple: “Duty before self.” But he also believed in living fully. He loved Hemant Kumar songs and would often play the mouth organ to lighten the mood in the barracks. It’s a reminder that the bravest men are often the ones who love life the most.
Legacy and Current Status
Major Mohit Sharma is physically gone, but his presence is stamped on the Indian military psyche.
- Infrastructure: The Rajendra Nagar Metro Station in Ghaziabad was renamed Major Mohit Sharma Rajendra Nagar Station.
- Pop Culture: Before Dhurandhar, his story was detailed in the book India’s Most Fearless.
- The Trust: The Major Mohit Sharma Trust continues to work for social welfare, keeping his name alive beyond the battlefield.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Was Ranveer Singh’s character in Dhurandhar real?
A: Yes. While the character is named “Hamza” or “Jaskirat,” the undercover operation depicted—infiltrating a terror group by growing a beard and posing as a local—is directly based on Major Mohit Sharma’s “Iftikhar Bhatt” mission.
Q2: Is Major Mohit Sharma’s wife also in the Army?
A: Yes. His wife is Lt. Col. Rishma Sarin. She is an Army Service Corps officer and recently made headlines as the first female officer to serve as an Agniveer recruiter.
Q3: How did Major Mohit Sharma die?
A: He was martyred on March 21, 2009, during an encounter in the Hafruda forest, Kupwara. He killed four terrorists in total during that operation despite being shot in the chest.
Q4: Did the family receive money from the movie Dhurandhar?
A: No. The parents sued the makers claiming unauthorized use of his story. The makers denied it was a biopic, and no compensation was publicly reported.
Q5: Who is the “Rehman Dakait” character in the movie?
A: That character is based on Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch (Rehman Dakait), a notorious gangster from Karachi’s Lyari area who was involved in gang wars and politics until his death in a police encounter in 2009.
