Akshaye Khanna initially turned down Dhurandhar, ‘scolded’ Mukesh Chhabra during first call: Pagal ho gaya hai?

Akshaye Khanna in Dhurandhar

• Akshaye Khanna's role in Dhurandhar is praised for restraint and menace
• Casting Akshaye Khanna took nearly a year, with initial doubts from the director
• Khanna starts Telugu debut Mahakali in Prashanth Varma Cinematic Universe

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Even though Ranveer Singh dominates the posters and promotions for Dhurandhar, it is Akshaye Khanna who has quietly captured the audience’s imagination.

In a film packed with powerful performers such as Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal, Akshaye Khanna’s portrayal of Rehman Dakait stands out for its restraint and menace.

His calm, tightly wound presence lingers long after the film ends, making his performance one of the most talked-about aspects of the project.

What makes this appreciation even more striking is how close Dhurandhar came to moving ahead without him.

Casting director Mukesh Chhabra recently shared how difficult it was to bring Akshaye Khanna on board, revealing that the process stretched over nearly a year.

When Mukesh Chhabra joined the film, Ranveer Singh was already confirmed. In the film industry, that can often make other actors hesitant, wary of being overshadowed. Mukesh Chhabra, however, chose not to play by those unspoken rules and treated every role as equally important.

This approach initially made director Aditya Dhar uneasy. When Mukesh Chhabra suggested Akshaye Khanna for the role of Rehman Dakait, the reaction was doubtful. “Aditya felt I was being overly ambitious," Mukesh Chhabra recalled. “But I was convinced Akshaye paaji was right for it."

Reaching Akshaye Khanna proved to be another challenge altogether. “I hadn’t even watched Chhaava back then," Mukesh Chhabra admitted.

“I called him, and the first thing he did was scold me. He said, ‘Paagal ho gaya hai kya?’" Known for his privacy and careful choice of roles, Akshaye Khanna seemed ready to turn the offer down. Still, Mukesh Chhabra persisted, asking him to at least hear the story before deciding.

Reluctantly, Akshaye Khanna agreed to a meeting, insisting on knowing exactly where it would take place, as he lives far from Mumbai’s usual film circuit.

That meeting ended up lasting almost four hours. Akshaye Khanna listened quietly as Mukesh Chhabra and Aditya Dhar narrated the script. “He barely interrupted," Mukesh Chhabra said. “He kept smoking, kept listening."

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When the narration ended, Akshaye Khanna’s reaction caught everyone by surprise. “‘F**k, it’s very good,’" he said. “‘Bada maza aayega.’" Even then, there was no immediate commitment. Two anxious days later, the final call came. “He just called and said, ‘Let’s do it, bro.’ That was it."

Today, with Dhurandhar earning praise and Akshaye Khanna’s performance widely admired, his decision feels more rewarding than ever. He has already begun work on his Telugu debut, Mahakali, directed by Puja Kolluru, entering the Prashanth Varma Cinematic Universe as Shukracharya.