Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Akshaye Khanna Initially Questioned Dhurandhar Villain Role
Akshaye Khanna played Rehman Dakait, the villain in Dhurandhar.
At first, he wondered why he should play a villain.
Mukesh Chhabra said Khanna changed his mind after hearing the story for five minutes.
Khanna agreed to the role on the same day.
Chhabra said Khanna added his own ideas to Aditya Dhar’s writing.
He also said two or three famous actors had rejected the part earlier.
Chhabra praised Ranveer Singh for accepting a role that stood behind the villain.
Dhurandhar was released as two films.
The two films reportedly earned Rs 3,120.74 crore worldwide.
Mukesh Chhabra said Akshaye Khanna initially asked why he should play Dhurandhar’s villain, Rehman Dakait.
Khanna reportedly agreed the same day after hearing Aditya Dhar’s story for about five minutes.
Chhabra said two or three major stars had rejected the role before Khanna accepted it.
Chhabra praised Khanna for adding his own touch to Dhar’s writing and said Ranveer Singh accepted a supporting position behind the antagonist.
Dhurandhar’s two parts reportedly earned a combined Rs 3,120.74 crore worldwide, according to Sacnilk.
- Who
- Akshaye Khanna, casting director Mukesh Chhabra, director Aditya Dhar and actor Ranveer Singh are central to the account.
- What
- Mukesh Chhabra described how Akshaye Khanna initially questioned but ultimately accepted the role of Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar.
- When
- Chhabra shared the account during a recent episode of Shekhar Suman’s show Shekhar Tonite; the first film was released in December 2025 and the second in March 2026.
- Where
- The discussion took place during a televised interview, while Dhurandhar was released in theatres.
- Why
- Khanna initially hesitated because the role was a villain, but accepted after hearing Dhar’s story and script.
Role and Casting Concerns
Creative Conviction
Why major stars reportedly declined
Role and Casting Concerns
Mukesh Chhabra said two or three major stars rejected the role because Dhurandhar had an ensemble cast and Aditya Dhar had not directed a film for seven years since Uri.
Creative Conviction
Chhabra criticized what he described as making career calculations instead of following instinct, arguing that this can become a problem for artists.
Prominence of the antagonist
Role and Casting Concerns
The account notes that Akshaye Khanna’s antagonist was promoted more prominently than Ranveer Singh’s protagonist and other cast members, a decision that could have raised concerns about the lead’s positioning.
Creative Conviction
Chhabra praised Ranveer Singh for accepting the arrangement, saying Singh knew what would happen in the second half and surrendered himself to the film.
- Role
- Akshaye Khanna played Rehman Dakait, the antagonist in Dhurandhar.
- Initial reaction
- Khanna reportedly asked, “Why would I play the villain?” before hearing the story.
- Earlier rejections
- Mukesh Chhabra said two or three major stars had rejected the role.
- Director
- Dhurandhar was directed by Aditya Dhar.
- Cast
- The two-part film features Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi and Sara Arjun.
- Release schedule
- The first part arrived in December 2025 and the second in March 2026.
- Reported worldwide earnings
- Sacnilk reported combined worldwide earnings of Rs 3,120.74 crore for the two films.
