Akshaye Khanna shot his Dhurandhar FA9LA entry with an oxygen cylinder on standby - here's why

Akshaye Khanna in Dhurandhar

Akshaye Khanna’s explosive entry in Dhurandhar has quickly become one of the film’s most celebrated moments. As Rehman Dakait, the actor delivered an impressive performance to the powerful track FA9LA. He sent audiences into a frenzy and has been dominating social media trends. But while the scene plays out effortlessly on screen, the filming conditions behind the iconic sequence were far more gruelling than fans realise.

The high-voltage song, originally composed by Bahraini hip-hop artist Flipperachi, was shot in the oxygen-thin terrain of Ladakh, a region where even mild physical movement can feel punishing. Choreographer Vijay Ganguly has now revealed that Akshaye Khanna required constant oxygen support during the shoot because of the demanding altitude.

“Akshaye would carry a small oxygen cylinder with him. When we were shooting this song, his oxygen level had dropped. After every shot, he would immediately put on the oxygen mask,” Ganguly told Mid-Day, adding that the actor pushed through the sequence with full dedication before returning home to recover.

Vijay Ganguly explained that the sequence marks a pivotal elevation in the narrative, establishing Akshaye’s character as the formidable Sher-E-Baloch. Initially, the plan was simple, Akshaye would walk into the frame and assume his place on the throne. But he instinctively changed the beat of the scene.

“Seeing the intensity of the moment, he decided on the spot to add some moves. None of us knew what he was going to do. He just took the scene forward and performed with full energy,” Ganguly recalled. The result is the now-viral entry that fans hail as one of Akshaye’s most powerful moments in recent years.

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Despite the physical strain of the location, the production managed to shoot the entire song in under two hours. Vijay Ganguly attributes this to Akshaye’s clarity and precision as a performer. “He nailed the first take. Then we captured a close-up, and that was it. He knows exactly what the scene needs,” he added.

Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, features a star-studded lineup including Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun and Akshaye Khanna. The film hit theatres on December 5 and has since sparked widespread praise for its scale, storytelling, and unforgettable character moments.