After 'Dhurandhar' success, will Akshaye Khanna be a part of 'Border 2'? Producer breaks silence

Producer Nidhi Dutta, one of the key producers of the upcoming war drama Border 2, has reacted to rumours suggesting that actor Akshaye Khanna will appear in the film.

The sequel to the iconic 1997 war movie Border, which featured Akshaye Khanna as Second Lieutenant Dharamvir Singh Bhakhri, is set to release in Indian theatres on 23 January 2026. The sequel stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty in major roles, among others.

Is Akshaye Khanna in Border 2?

Responding to speculation about Khanna’s involvement, Dutta directly addressed the rumours during a conversation with Zoom.

She said, “No, it is not true. We did not reach out to him.” This came after social media chatter suggested that fans had spotted someone resembling Khanna in the film’s trailer or promotional material, leading to widespread assumptions of a cameo.

More from Entertainment

Vishal Bhardwaj's 'O'Romeo' Trailer Review: Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri share fiery chemistry but Avinash Tiwari steals the show Ram Gopal Varma reveals Slumdog Millionaire's Oscar winning song 'Jai Ho' was composed by Sukhwinder Singh: 'AR Rahman is always late, it frustrates you and...'

Despite the buzz, Dutta made it clear the filmmakers have not approached Akshaye Khanna to reprise his role or make a special appearance in Border 2. Reports and online posts claiming otherwise are therefore incorrect.

What sparked the rumours?

Interest in Khanna’s participation grew after a segment of the Border 2 teaser and song visuals where some viewers thought they saw a face resembling the actor. That resemblance, combined with nostalgia for the original cast, fueled speculation about his return. However, the producer’s clarification puts those theories to rest.

Cast of Border 2

Border 2 is directed by Anurag Singh and tells a fresh story inspired by real episodes from the 1971 India-Pakistan war, focusing on new heroes alongside Sunny Deol’s return. It also features performances from Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, Ahan Shetty, Sonam Bajwa, Mona Singh and Medha Rana, among others. The film honours the legacy of Indian soldiers while introducing a new generation of characters.

While Border 2 builds on the legacy of its predecessor, it intentionally focuses on different battles and characters, meaning not all original cast members or roles are included in the sequel’s narrative.