In the highly anticipated film Dhurandhar, fronted by the energetic Ranveer Singh, it is the quietly intense Akshaye Khanna who has captured the audience's imagination and become the most discussed performer. Amidst a powerhouse cast including Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and Rakesh Bedi, Khanna's restrained yet menacing portrayal of Rehman Dakait has distinguished itself, marking a significant career highlight.
The Casting Conundrum: One Star Makes It "Impossible"
In an exclusive revelation to India Today, the film's casting director, Mukesh Chhabra, detailed the exhaustive, nearly year-long process behind assembling Dhurandhar's ensemble. Chhabra joined the project after Ranveer Singh was already locked in, a fact that presented an immediate challenge. "Ranveer Singh was already onboard when I came in," Mukesh stated, explaining the industry's unwritten rule. "Once you have one big star, it becomes impossible to get more stars. That's just how the Mumbai film industry works."
Despite this limitation, Chhabra emphasized that every casting decision, from major roles to the smallest parts, was handled with meticulous precision. The team was committed to finding the perfect fit for each character, regardless of the actor's stature.
"He Scolded Me First": The Audacious Pitch to Akshaye Khanna
One of Chhabra's most ambitious ideas was to cast the notoriously selective Akshaye Khanna. The suggestion was so unexpected that it made director Aditya Dhar question Chhabra's sanity. "Aditya Dhar thought I had gone mad," Mukesh admitted. Undeterred, he made the fateful call to Khanna, which did not begin smoothly. "Unhone pehle mujhe daanta (He scolded me first)," Chhabra recalled. "He said, 'Paagal ho gaya hai kya? (Have you gone mad?)'. I asked him to at least hear me out once."
Persistence paid off. Khanna agreed to a meeting with Chhabra and Aditya Dhar, though his typical reticence showed when asked to come to an office: "Main toh yahan rehta hi nahi hoon. Bol kahan aana hai? (I don't even live here. Tell me where to come)."
The Four-Hour Meeting and a Profane "Yes"
The pivotal meeting was an intense, four-hour affair. "He came and sat for four hours. He quietly listened. He kept smoking," described Mukesh. When the presentation concluded, Khanna's reaction was both succinct and profoundly satisfying: "F**k, it's very good." He followed with, "Well done, yaar. Bada maza aayega (It will be great fun)."
Even with this positive feedback, the makers spent anxious days awaiting final confirmation. Their worries ended when Akshaye himself called Chhabra and said, "Let's do it, bro." This commitment culminated in a performance that is now being hailed as a career-best.
Beyond Dhurandhar: Telugu Debut and Drishyam 3 Exit
Riding high on Dhurandhar's success, Akshaye Khanna has swiftly moved to his next project. The actor is making his Telugu film debut with Mahakali, a part of the expanding Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU). Director Puja Kolluru has already shared behind-the-scenes glimpses, including a cheerful selfie with Khanna, who will be seen as the sage Shukracharya.
However, Khanna also recently found himself in controversy. He exited Drishyam 3 just days before Dhurandhar's release, prompting producer Kumar Mangat Pathak to label his departure as "unprofessional" and "toxic," even serving a legal notice. Reports suggested creative differences, including a disagreement over wearing a wig for his character, IG Tarun Ahlawat. While speculation pointed to Jaideep Ahlawat as a replacement, director Abhishek Pathak clarified that Jaideep is playing a newly written character, not replacing Khanna.
The journey of Akshaye Khanna in Dhurandhar, from a seemingly impossible casting choice to the film's most praised actor, underscores the impact of visionary casting and an actor's powerful, understated craft. As he embarks on new ventures in Indian cinema, his performance in Dhurandhar is set to be a defining benchmark.
