Mumbai: Salman Khan has praised Ranveer Singh for his restrained performance in the Dhurandhar franchise, describing him as a “very secure” actor who controlled his trademark high energy to suit the demands of his character. The Bollywood superstar also discussed Ranbir Kapoor’s performance in Animal, saying the two actors have different strengths and that their performances cannot be compared.
Salman made the remarks during the opening episode of Koffee With Karan Season 9, hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar and premiered on JioHotstar on Wednesday. During a rapid-fire round, actor Karisma Kapoor asked Salman to choose between Ranveer’s performance in Dhurandhar and Ranbir’s portrayal in Animal.
Rather than favouring one actor, Salman explained what impressed him about Ranveer’s approach to playing an undercover operative in director Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller. He also emphasised that both actors bring distinct styles to their roles.
Salman Khan praises Ranveer Singh’s restrained performance
Ranveer Singh is known for his exuberant personality and larger-than-life performances. However, Salman pointed out that Dhurandhar required the actor to exercise considerable restraint.
“Especially for Ranveer in Dhurandhar, he had to control all his energy. He does everything larger than life, and he had to control that big time,” Salman said.
He added that Ranveer’s ability to hold back his usual energy demonstrated his confidence in the role.
“For an actor, that’s a huge amount of insecurity that he did not have in the film. He is very secure as an actor and in that role in Dhurandhar,” Salman said.
The comments highlighted Salman’s appreciation of Ranveer’s ability to adapt his performance to the character rather than relying entirely on the energetic screen persona associated with many of his earlier roles.
In Dhurandhar, Ranveer plays Jaskirat Singh Rangi, who assumes the identity of Hamza Ali Mazari to infiltrate Karachi’s criminal underworld. The character must operate undercover while navigating dangerous criminal networks, making a controlled approach central to the role.
Salman’s assessment focused on this transformation, suggesting that Ranveer’s restraint was a significant aspect of his performance.
Salman says Ranveer and Ranbir cannot be compared
The conversation took a different turn when Karisma Kapoor asked Salman to compare Ranveer’s performance in Dhurandhar with Ranbir Kapoor’s turn in Animal.
Salman declined to pick a winner.
“Two different kinds of performance. You cannot compare any of them,” he said.
When Karisma suggested that he was being diplomatic, Salman rejected the suggestion and explained why he viewed the performances differently.
“It is not diplomatic at all. Both are fantastic actors. One has got a tremendous amount of energy. One has got a tremendous amount of intensity. Both have different styles of acting,” he clarified.
His response acknowledged the contrasting approaches taken by the two actors without placing one performance above the other.
While Salman highlighted Ranveer’s ability to control his energy in Dhurandhar, he recognised the intensity that Ranbir brought to Animal. His comments framed the two performances as distinct interpretations shaped by the demands of their respective characters.
The exchange also became a talking point from the chat show’s opening episode, offering Salman an opportunity to discuss contemporary actors and their approaches to performance.
What makes Ranveer’s role in Dhurandhar distinctive?
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar follows the story of an undercover operation involving Jaskirat Singh Rangi, who adopts the identity of Hamza Ali Mazari to infiltrate criminal networks in Karachi.
The first film, Dhurandhar, was released in theatres on December 5, 2025. The story follows Intelligence Bureau chief Ajay Sanyal, who recruits a young man from Pathankot for a deep-cover mission.
The sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, was released on March 19, 2026. It follows Jaskirat’s growing influence within Pakistani syndicates as he pursues revenge while confronting wider national security threats.
The franchise requires Ranveer to balance the demands of an undercover operative with the dramatic intensity of a large-scale spy thriller.
Salman’s comments draw attention to the contrast between Ranveer’s usual performance style and the restraint required by the character. An undercover operative must often conceal his intentions and avoid attracting attention, making subtlety an important element of the portrayal.
According to Salman, Ranveer’s willingness to control his trademark energy helped him meet those demands.
Ranbir Kapoor’s intensity in Animal
Salman also spoke appreciatively about Ranbir Kapoor’s performance in Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and released on December 1, 2023.
Ranbir played Ranvijay Singh, whose complicated relationship with his father, Balbir Singh, portrayed by Anil Kapoor, drives much of the film’s story.
The film also featured Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol and Triptii Dimri in key roles.
Ranbir’s character is defined by intense familial loyalty, obsession and violence. His performance required him to portray a man whose emotional attachments increasingly shape his actions and confrontations.
This approach differs from the controlled performance Salman identified in Dhurandhar. Rather than comparing the actors on a single scale, Salman described their strengths in terms of energy and intensity.
His remarks acknowledged that performances can be effective in different ways, depending on the character and the narrative.
Salman recalls working with Karisma Kapoor
The episode also gave Salman an opportunity to revisit his early years in Bollywood and his professional association with Karisma Kapoor.
Salman recalled shooting around 13 films with Karisma, highlighting the long-standing working relationship between the two actors.
He also spoke about his association with Karan Johar and recalled agreeing to appear in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai out of respect for Johar’s father, Yash Johar.
Salman’s appearance on the show included reflections on his personal life, his experiences in the film industry and his approach to relationships with colleagues.
He also discussed growing up in a small room at Galaxy Apartments and shared aspects of his life away from the screen.
The conversation combined personal anecdotes with discussions about acting, giving the episode a mix of nostalgia and commentary on the current Hindi film industry.
Koffee With Karan Season 9 episode streams on JioHotstar
The episode marked the return of Koffee With Karan with its ninth season. Hosted by Karan Johar, the show is known for its celebrity conversations, rapid-fire questions and discussions about relationships, careers and the entertainment industry.
Karisma’s question about Ranveer and Ranbir gave Salman a chance to share his views on two prominent contemporary actors.
Instead of turning the question into a direct competition, Salman emphasised that the actors have different strengths. His praise of Ranveer focused on the control required for Dhurandhar, while his remarks about Ranbir acknowledged the intensity of Animal.
The episode is available to stream on JioHotstar in India.
Salman’s verdict highlights two different acting styles
Salman Khan’s comments offer an appreciation of Ranveer Singh’s performance in Dhurandhar while recognising Ranbir Kapoor’s work in Animal.
By describing Ranveer as a secure actor, Salman highlighted the confidence required to restrain a familiar screen persona when a role demands a different approach. At the same time, he acknowledged the intensity that Ranbir brought to his character.
His refusal to compare the two performances reinforces the distinction between their acting styles rather than treating them as competing versions of the same role.
The remarks have renewed attention on Ranveer’s transformation in the Dhurandhar franchise and the contrasting approaches seen in two major Hindi film releases.