Revealed: Here's how Akshaye Khanna reacted to 'Dhurandhar' success

After the release of Dhurandhar, Akshaye Khanna has once again become the talk of the town. He has quietly made his way back into the hearts of the audience, for the second time this year, with his restrained yet fierce performance as Rehman Dakait. Everyone has only been praising him. Now, it has been revealed how Khanna is perceiving all the love and adulation, and it has been shared by none other than casting director Mukesh Chhabra.

Speaking to Miss Malini, Chhabra revealed that he has spoken to Akshaye Khanna about the love his performance has been receiving. He shared, “This morning, I was talking to him, and he was very unbothered by it. He just said, ‘Haan, mazza aaya.’ He knows how much love he puts into his work. When I was on set a couple of times, I realised his process - he stays in his own space, handles his aura very carefully, reads his scenes multiple times, and is fully prepared. I think that magic then shows in his work.”

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Praising Khanna, he said, “Akshaye Khanna is such an actor, his note is so distinct that it never feels borrowed or copied. He brings his own element into everything he does, and does it so convincingly that you can’t help but fall in love with it.”

In another interview with Bollywood Hungama, Chhabra recounted the time when he narrated the film to Khanna. He had listened intently and quietly during the session before turning to him and saying simply, “Mukesh, fantastic.” According to Chhabra, the actor read the script the same day and called the next morning to confirm his enthusiasm for the role, setting the tone for what would become one of the film’s most talked-about performances.

Chhabra also shared that the casting journey for Dhurandhar was extensive and meticulous, taking nearly a year and a half to finalise the ensemble. The director said this long process was about finding the right fit for each character rather than rushing decisions, something he believes has paid off as audiences respond passionately to the ensemble’s work.

Dhurandhar has been unstoppable at the box office. The film has crossed the Rs 500 crore mark and is set to emerge not just as the biggest hit of 2025, but one of the biggest hits of all time.