By Casting Challenges and Star-Studded Ensemble
Dhurandhar features a powerful ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi, and Arjun Rampal, often sharing screen space with lead Ranveer Singh. However, Akshaye Khanna’s portrayal of Rehman Dakait has received significant attention and acclaim.
In a recent interview, casting director Mukesh Chhabra discussed the film’s casting journey, which spanned over a year, and shared how he persuaded Akshaye Khanna to take on the role.
Securing Stars Was a Challenge
Speaking to India Today, Mukesh explained that Ranveer Singh was already confirmed when he joined the project. “It was almost impossible to get more stars with Ranveer already onboard. But we carefully evaluated every casting option,” he said.
He added that even minor casting choices—from Danish Pandor, Rakesh Bedi, Akshaye Khanna to R. Madhavan—were made meticulously, ensuring each role added depth to the story.
Convincing Akshaye Khanna to Join
Mukesh revealed that initially, the team was skeptical about Akshaye Khanna’s participation, as the actor is highly selective with his projects. “I said, ‘Akshaye paaji will do it,’ and we all jumped on the idea,” he recalled.
When first approached, Akshaye Khanna reacted strongly, saying, “Paagal ho gaya hai kya? (Have you gone crazy?)” Mukesh encouraged him to hear the script at least once, which eventually led to a meeting with director Aditya Dhar.
The Four-Hour Script Reading
During the meeting, Akshaye Khanna drove himself to the office, noting, “Main toh yahan rehta hi nahi hoon. Bol kahan aana hai (I don’t even live here. Tell me where to meet).”
He listened to the script quietly for four hours, smoking throughout the session. Afterward, he said, “F**k, it’s very good. Well done, yaar. Bada maza aayega.”
Even after this, the makers waited a couple of days for confirmation. The decision was finalized when Akshaye personally called Mukesh: “Let’s do it, bro.”
Next Stop: Telugu Cinema with Mahakali
Following Dhurandhar’s success, Akshaye Khanna has already begun his next project, marking his Telugu cinema debut. He will appear in Mahakali, directed by Puja Kolluru, which is part of the PVCU superhero universe, including films like HanuMan, Jai Hanuman, and Adhira.
Behind-the-scenes photos show Akshaye on set, smiling and engaging with the crew. In the film, he portrays the character Shukracharya, adding a mythological and heroic dimension to the project.
