- By Swati Singh
- Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:56 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, who inspired R Madhavan's character Ajay Sanyal in Dhurandhar, once reportedly disguised himself as a beggar in the 1980s to gather intelligence on Pakistan’s nuclear programme, as mentioned in Ajit Doval – On a Mission. During that period, he was posted in Islamabad, a highly sensitive assignment that involved significant risks and required deep undercover operations.
According to D Devdutt’s book, Ajit Doval – On a Mission, having already distinguished himself with the Intelligence Bureau and during the Sikkim mission, Doval faced one of the most dangerous assignments of his career, according to a report in News18, citing the book.
The book, published in 2023, reveals that Pakistan was at the time determined to acquire nuclear weapons by any means necessary. India had shocked the world in 1974 with its first successful nuclear test, and in response, Pakistan embarked on an aggressive pursuit of nuclear capability. It was helped by countries like China. India needed proof of these clandestine efforts and Doval, known as the 'Super Cop', was entrusted with the mission, the report said.
For days, he roamed the streets of Kahuta, blending in while carefully observing his surroundings. During this time, he noticed a small barber shop frequently visited by scientists from the facility. Sitting nearby, he discreetly collected strands of hair left behind in the shop.
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He later smuggled these samples back to India, where tests revealed traces of radiation and uranium, confirming the existence of Pakistan’s covert nuclear programme. The intelligence gathered played a crucial role in exposing these developments and reportedly delayed Pakistan’s nuclear progress significantly, marking the operation as one of Doval’s most daring undercover missions.