Here's what went into Akshaye Khanna’s intense makeover as Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar

Akshaye Khanna received praise for his performance in Dhurandhar

Makeup and character designer Preetisheel Singh has offered fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Akshaye Khanna’s fierce avatar as Rehman Dakait was crafted for Dhurandhar.

Preetisheel shared a series of BTS photos on Instagram, accompanied by a detailed note explaining the creative process behind the actor’s striking transformation. “Designing the legendary #AkshayeKhanna’s look for Dhurandhar was all about capturing the subtle intensity he brings to every frame,” she wrote. “We built his appearance around clean structures, controlled detailing, and tones that highlight his strong features without overpowering the character. Watching the look come alive through his performance made the entire process incredibly rewarding.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Preetisheel Singh (@preetisheel)

With Dhurandhar featuring a stacked ensemble including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and others, Preetisheel said it was essential to balance uniformity and individuality. Each character needed to feel rooted in the film’s gritty visual universe while still standing apart. “I put a lot of thought into even the secondary and tertiary characters because they each had their own quirks and unique traits,” she said in a statement.

Detailing the realism she aimed to achieve, Preetisheel added, “Showing their rawness through makeup was important to me. Adding detailed layers and textures helped bring out who they really were, making even the briefest appearances feel real. Hair became a key storytelling tool, evolving across the film to show time, pressure, and emotional shifts.”

Also Read: Saumya Tandon clarifies Dhurandhar controversy saying she wasn’t targeting YRF Spyverse; tweets, 'I'm not taking a jab at anyone'

She further noted that elements like scars, tanning, sweat, dust and blood work were applied with precision and continuity. “Some of the prosthetics are genuinely stomach-churning,” she revealed.

Preetisheel Singh D’souza is widely regarded as India’s foremost character designer, creating transformative looks for films such as Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, Pushpa: The Rise, Haider, Andhadhun, Mom and Master. A National Award winner, she runs Da Makeup Lab which is India’s leading prosthetics and makeup studio, alongside her husband Mark D’souza.