Udaybir Sandhu: The National-Level Hockey Player Who Turned Actor and Stole the Show as Pinda in Dhurandhar: The Revenge
Udaybir Sandhu, also known as Pinda or Gurbaaz Singh in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, has emerged as one of the standout character actors in Aditya Dhar and Ranveer Singh’s latest blockbuster. Despite the film’s politically charged narrative dividing audiences, Udaybir has won praise for his confident screen presence, crisp Punjabi diction, and natural acting.
Who Is Pinda (aka Gurbaaz Singh)?
Spoiler alert: For those who haven’t seen the film, Gurbaaz Singh, also called Pinda, is the childhood friend of Jaskirat Singh Rangi (Ranveer Singh) in Punjab. In the film, Pinda navigates the drug racket world and plays a pivotal role in the story, shifting from friend to foe of Ranveer’s character.
One of Pinda’s memorable lines, “Ghar ki yaad nahi aayi tujhe Jassi?” (“Haven’t you missed home, Jassi?”), lands at a crucial moment in the plot, dramatically influencing the narrative.
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Udaybir Sandhu’s Journey
To portray both a 20-year-old and a 40-year-old in the same film, Udaybir underwent a remarkable physical transformation, gaining and then losing 15 kg to fit the roles. Reflecting on the process, he shared:
“Played a 20-year-old boy and a 40-year-old man in the same film… gained & lost 15 kgs to look the part. Pushed my limits I didn’t know I had. A lot of discipline, blood, sweat, and tears went into making this. Hope you enjoy watching Pinda on the big screen.”
He also expressed gratitude to casting director Mukesh Chhabra for believing in him:
“Paaji, you’ve seen me at my lowest, believed in me when it wasn’t easy, and kept pushing me to become better with every single audition. I truly respect the way you stand by your actors. Grateful to have your guidance, always. This one is as much yours as it is mine. Paaji, thank you for giving me PINDA.”
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Early Career and Sports Background
Before his breakthrough in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Udaybir made his Hindi film debut in Akshay Kumar’s Gold (2018), where he also assisted in training the actors for hockey, leveraging his experience as a national-level hockey player from Punjab.
He also appeared in Imtiaz Ali’s Amar Singh Chamkila, sharing the screen with Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, and featured in Ikk Kudi alongside Shehnaaz Gill. Alongside acting, Udaybir has explored modeling in both India and South Africa.
The Rise of Pinda
With Dhurandhar: The Revenge crossing ₹500 crore domestically within five days of release, Udaybir Sandhu’s performance as Pinda has cemented his place as one of the promising character actors in contemporary Hindi cinema. His blend of physicality, authenticity, and on-screen charisma has made him a fan favorite, and audiences are eager to see what he does next.
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