Since the release of Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar in theatres, the craze for Akshaye Khanna's performance, especially his powerful entry as Pakistani gangster Rehman Dakait, has reached new heights. He has been all over the internet. His dedication and craft have been appreciated worldwide and have been trending since the movie's release on December 5. Even Akshaye himself did not expect this kind of response when he first heard the narration. The man behind casting him in the role, renowned casting director Mukesh Chhabra, recently opened up about how Akshaye Khanna was approached for the part and his reaction to the script. He called him 'Baap.'
In an interview with the Indian Express, Mukesh Chhabra praised Akhaye Khanna's dedication to his work. He said, "He is baap! Now he has literally taken over the internet. The social media belongs to Akshaye Khanna since the time the film has released. Wherever you go, be it Facebook, Instagram, X, all you see is him on your timeline. People are only talking about his entry and the way he has performed overall. And he had no idea it would become so big, because he is just too focused as a guy on his work."
Talking about the casting process and what sets Akshaye apart from other actors, Chhabra shared, "We jotted down lots of names for his role and then we went about shortlisting, where we zeroed in on his name. Then he came for the narration, and he came alone, that was the beautiful part. And after it ended, he looked at me and I looked at him and he said, ‘Loved it, maza aa gaya yaar’. Aaj main padh leta hoon raat mein jaakar phir. He is not one of those guys who says ‘aaj padh leta hoon’ and then ghosts you. He is a man of his word. That’s the best part about him, that he takes every single decision on his own."
Akshaye Khanna plays Rehmain Dakait, a Baloch leader and a gangster, based in Lyari, Karachi, who runs an illegal arms business. The actor's improvised entry to FA9LA, a song with Arabic roots by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi, has caught everyone's attention.
What's Next In Akshaye Khanna's Filmy Career?
He is set to make his Telugu film debut with Mahakali, a mythological superhero cinematic universe by filmmaker Prasanth Varma. After playing an antagonist, Akshaye will be seen portraying the mythological character Shukracharya, the guru of demons.