Sanjeeda Shaikh has revealed that she expected to perform comedy when she joined Dhamaal 4, but ended up handling a surprising amount of the film’s action instead. The actor described the experience humorously, saying she felt she had been “fooled” after being told that her role would primarily involve comedy.
The latest instalment of the Dhamaal franchise brings back series regulars Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi and Jaaved Jaaferi, while introducing several new faces, including Sanjeeda.
How Sanjeeda Shaikh Landed Dhamaal 4
Sanjeeda said her casting came after director Indra Kumar watched her performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi.
According to the actor, Kumar initially associated her with more serious dramatic roles because of her work in the period drama.
She recalled the filmmaker telling her:
“Aap toh bahut serious actress hain.”
Sanjeeda said she wanted an opportunity to demonstrate that she could also handle comedy. During their meeting, her natural laughter apparently helped convince the director that she could fit into the comic world of Dhamaal.
She eventually became part of the film’s ensemble.
Breaking Away From the ‘Serious Actor’ Image
Before Dhamaal 4, Sanjeeda had become associated with more intense and dramatic performances, particularly following Heeramandi.
The comedy franchise gave her an opportunity to move into a lighter genre and work alongside actors who have extensive experience in comic roles.
For Sanjeeda, one of the challenges was making sure her character remained noticeable without appearing out of place within an established franchise.
Working With Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi and Riteish Deshmukh
Sanjeeda found herself sharing scenes with some of Hindi cinema’s established comedy performers.
She explained that actors such as Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi and Riteish Deshmukh can elevate a scene through their comic timing, even with relatively small reactions or moments.
That environment pushed her to become more attentive to her own performance.
Her priority, she said, was to ensure that her character remained effective within a franchise that already has a loyal audience and several well-known characters.
‘I Was Actually Fooled’ — Sanjeeda on the Action
The biggest surprise for Sanjeeda came when she discovered how much physical action her role required.
Instead of simply concentrating on comedy, she found herself involved in numerous action sequences.
Describing the situation humorously, she said:
“Toh mujhe actually ullu banaya gaya, mujhe bola gaya tha ki comedy karni hai lekin mujhe action karwaya gaya.”
She joked that she had essentially been told she was signing up for comedy before being given a substantial amount of action work.
Ajay Devgn Was Doing Comedy While Sanjeeda Did the Action
Sanjeeda also described an amusing contrast on the set.
With Ajay Devgn, one of Hindi cinema’s most established action stars, part of the cast, she found it funny that she was frequently the one performing the action sequences while he was involved in the comic portions of the film.
She recalled:
“Main sach se boloongi. Ajay Devgn set pe hain aur mujhse saare action sequences karwaye ja rahe hain.”
According to Sanjeeda, the situation eventually became a running joke among the cast and crew.
Her comments highlight the playful atmosphere surrounding the production and the unexpected demands that came with her role.
Dhamaal 4 Brings Together a Large Ensemble
Dhamaal 4 continues the franchise’s tradition of combining a large ensemble cast with comedy and chaotic situations.
Alongside Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi and Jaaved Jaaferi, the film features Sanjeeda Shaikh, Ravi Kishan, Sanjay Mishra, Upendra Limaye, Anjali Anand and Esha Gupta, among others.
The return of familiar franchise performers combined with new additions gives the latest instalment a mix of established comic personalities and fresh performances.
Sanjeeda Shaikh’s New Comedy Chapter
For Sanjeeda, Dhamaal 4 represents a notable change from the serious material with which audiences had recently associated her.
Her experience on the film allowed her to explore comedy while simultaneously taking on physically demanding scenes.
The actor’s comments also suggest that the unexpected action component became one of the more memorable aspects of her experience on the production.
Rather than being frustrated by the surprise, Sanjeeda appears to have embraced it as part of the fun of working on a large-scale comedy franchise.
