25 Years of Arjun Rampal! 5 Films that Fueled His Villainous Era

If you cannot think of Om Shanti Om without the iconic Mukesh Mehra – Arjun Rampal has definitely made a mark as the chilling villain, and there’s no denying that! With each of the negative roles that he’s stepped into, he has ensured to make it reach the audience, whether through thrills, intensity or sheer dread. As Ra One, Mukesh Mehra or ISI Major Iqbal, Rampal has created a villainous niche of his own. As he completes a staggering 25 years in the industry, here’s looking at the films that defined that era.

Om Shanti Om: Arjun Rampal played the cold-hearted, villainous film producer Mukesh Mehra in the iconic film, Om Shanti Om. He serves as the primary antagonist and brought sheer believability through his straight approach to the character, making it one of the most unforgettable standouts of the film.

Ra One: Arjun Rampal played the titular villain in the 2011 sci-fi-action film, Ra One. As a powerful, undefeated virtual character who hops from the world of a video game into a real one, Rampal pulled off the off-beat role with ease so smooth that it became synonymous with the performer that he is.

Dhurandhar: In 2025, Rampal made waves with the latest blockbuster, Dhurandhar. He breathed life into a chilling and dreadful antagonist ISI Major Iqbal, and exuded terror mainly through his steel-cut expressions and dialogues that cut straight from the screens.

Dhurandhar The Revenge: Rampal maintained the terror in the 2026 release Dhurandhar The Revenge, and kept the dread alive through ISI Major Iqbal. With relatively more screen time, the actor stretched the appeal of his character by engaging in more combat sequences and verbal battles, placing himself at the front and center of the menace in Dhurandhar The Revenge.

Dhaakad: In the 2022 release Dhaakad, Arjun Rampal headlined the thrilling world by playing the primary antagonist Rudraveer, a stylised, edgy human and arms lord with platinum blonde hair and tattoos that added gravitas to his character’s zing.

With each release, Arjun Rampal has dived into distinct characters with distinct shades, creating a villainy universe of his own!