Casting Challenges and Akshaye Khanna’s Reluctance

Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, features a star-studded ensemble including Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi, and Arjun Rampal. Among the cast, Akshaye Khanna, playing Rehman Dakait, has been the most talked-about performance.

In a recent interview, casting director Mukesh Chhabra revealed that securing Akshaye Khanna for the role was a year-long challenge. He described how he persuaded the selective actor to join the project.

“Impossible to Add More Stars After Ranveer”

Speaking to India Today, Mukesh Chhabra noted that Ranveer Singh was already cast when he joined as the film’s casting director. “Once a major star is onboard, adding more big names becomes difficult,” he explained.

He added that every casting decision, whether involving Danish Pandor, Rakesh Bedi, Akshaye Khanna, or R. Madhavan, was handled meticulously to ensure a perfect fit for the characters.

Akshaye Khanna’s Initial Reaction

Mukesh shared that when he first contacted Akshaye Khanna with the role, the actor was skeptical. “He scolded me and asked, ‘Have you gone crazy?’” Mukesh recalled. After persistent effort, Akshaye agreed to meet Mukesh Chhabra and director Aditya Dhar, despite initially claiming he did not live in Mumbai.

During the meeting, Akshaye listened quietly for four hours, smoking casually. At the end, he praised the script, saying, “It’s very good. Well done, yaar. Bada maza aayega.” A few days later, he officially confirmed, “Let’s do it, bro.”

After Dhurandhar: Telugu Debut in Mahakali

Following the success of Dhurandhar, Akshaye Khanna is now entering Telugu cinema. He will star in Mahakali, directed by Puja Kolluru, part of the superhero universe PVCU, which also includes HanuMan, Jai Hanuman, and Adhira.

Behind-the-scenes photos from the set show Akshaye smiling with the director, ready to portray Shukracharya. Fans are excited to see him in this superhero role, marking a new chapter in his acting career.