As the iconic action-comedy Dabangg completes 15 years since its release, actress Sonakshi Sinha and her husband Zaheer Iqbal took a playful trip down memory lane by recreating a famous scene from her debut movie. The video, shared on Instagram, quickly went viral, delighting fans with its blend of humor, nostalgia, and candid moments.
In the light-hearted recreation, Zaheer Iqbal steps into the role of Inspector Chulbul Pandey, originally played by Salman Khan. Mimicking one of the film’s most memorable dialogues, Zaheer holds a 100-rupee note and, with dramatic flair, says, “Pyaar se de rahe hain rakh lijiye nahi toh thappar mar kar bhi de sakte hai.” His intense expression and serious tone set the stage for a perfectly executed homage — until Sonakshi bursts into laughter, rolling on the floor and gasping for breath.
What followed was a series of hilarious retakes as the couple kept fumbling, laughing, and playfully improvising, giving their fans a glimpse into their love-filled, unscripted moments. In one instance, Sonakshi cheekily quipped, “Achcha,” as if responding to her husband’s dialogue in real life, adding a layer of personal charm to the recreation.
With multiple playful retakes, Sonakshi eventually delivered her memorable dialogue: “Thappad se darr nahi lagta sahab; pyar se lagta hai Sonakshi Sinha,” sparking uproarious laughter from the couple. The post read, “Celebrating 15 years of Dabangg magic!!! Hud hud Dabangg!!!” along with #15YearsOfDabangg.
Fans and industry friends joined the celebration by showering love in the comments section. Saba Pataudi and Harshdeep Kaur posted heart emojis, while Vishal Mishra shared a heart-eyed emoji. One fan wrote, “One national award for being the most unserious couple, please,” while another gushed, “Ufff Rajjo 2.0 with her real-life hero — my heart is melting.” Messages of pride and love flooded the post, celebrating Sonakshi’s journey from her debut to becoming a superstar.
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Originally directed by Abhinav Singh Kashyap and produced by Arbaaz Khan under Arbaaz Khan Productions, along with Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision, Dabangg was a box office blockbuster that grossed over ₹221 crore worldwide. The film follows the story of a corrupt yet lovable police officer who battles family drama, gangsters, and politicians to protect what matters most.
Alongside Sonakshi and Salman Khan, the ensemble cast featured Arbaaz Khan, Sonu Sood, Om Puri, Dimple Kapadia, Vinod Khanna, Anupam Kher, Mahesh Manjrekar, and Mahie Gill. The film marked a major milestone, launching Sonakshi’s acting career and establishing Abhinav Singh Kashyap as a prominent director.
With sequels Dabangg 2 (2012) and Dabangg 3 (2019), the franchise has left an indelible mark on Bollywood. This affectionate recreation by Sonakshi and Zaheer added yet another memorable chapter to the film’s legacy — full of laughter, love, and nostalgic vibes.