Bimal Oberoi’s supporting role as Shirani in “Dhurandhar” became a huge internet phenomenon, making the calm, one-liner one of this year’s best meme characters. Nicknamed “Blinkit of Balochistan” and “Hamza ka Doraemon,” Shirani’s blunt efficiency resonates with online audiences. After decades spent in the shadows and in minor roles, Oberoi has now achieved overnight fame.
Bimal Oberoi reacts to the meme craze
According to India Today, “It was really funny, bizarre, and honestly, quite hilarious,” Oberoi said of the meme craze surrounding his character. “Shirani was a serious character in the film. Aditya Dhar and the team were looking for someone for a long time, and I was very lucky to find him. But during filming, not even Aditya, who wrote the script, would have imagined that audiences would give the character such an identity. It just goes to show how creative and engaged our audience is.” Someone wrote: “Sir, mera exam kal hai, maine training nahi ki, please mujhe padha dijiye (my exam is tomorrow, I haven’t prepared, please teach me).” Another said: “Sir, cylinder dilwa dijiye (please help me get a gas cylinder).” Ek ne likha, ‘Sir, main bodybuilder hoon par proteina ke paise nahi hain — kuch arrange kar dijiye (I’m a bodybuilder, but I don’t have money for protein, please arrange something)’,” he shared. The actor admits, “Main apna mobile uthata hoon aur hasta hi rehta Hoon (I pick up the phone and keep laughing). It just doesn’t stop, it keeps growing. I post a picture and it starts all over again.”
Bimal Oberoi’s family’s amused reaction
Even back home, the response was one of amused surprise. “Even my father looks at them and laughs. He said, ‘Yeh toh socha hi nahi tha ki tere saath aisa bhi hogs (I never imagined something like this could happen to you).'”
About ‘Dhurandhar’
“Dhurandhar” is a spy thriller directed by Aditya Dhar, starring Ranveer Singh as agent Hamza, who infiltrates Karachi’s underworld to stop the ISI’s terrorist plots. Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Bimal Oberoi, and others also appear in supporting roles.
