In a recent candid interview, Mukesh Chhabra, the man behind the stellar ensemble of the 2025 hit Dhurandhar, revealed that convincing Akshaye Khanna for the role of the antagonist, Rehman Dakait, was no small feat. The actor, who famously resides in the coastal town of Alibaug, rarely visits Mumbai for work unless a script truly resonates with him.
“Are You Crazy?”: The Initial Reaction
According to Chhabra, the journey began with a blunt rejection. When he first called Khanna to propose the role, the actor’s response was characteristically direct. “He first scolded me,” Chhabra recalled with a laugh. “He asked, ‘Have you gone crazy?'”
Khanna, who has become increasingly selective over the years, was initially hesitant to join an ensemble cast that already featured heavyweights like Ranveer Singh and Sanjay Dutt. However, Chhabra’s persistence eventually paid off when he managed to get the actor to agree to a script narration.
The Script That Changed Everything
Despite his reluctance, the quality of Aditya Dhar’s writing was enough to pull Khanna out of his Alibaug sanctuary. The actor drove himself over 100 kilometers to Mumbai specifically to meet the director and the casting team.
The meeting, which took place at Chhabra’s office, reportedly lasted over four hours. Chhabra described the scene of Khanna quietly absorbing the narrative:
“He came and sat for four hours. He quietly listened, kept smoking, and when we finished, he just said, ‘F*** , it’s very good. Bada maza aayega (It will be fun).'”
A Man of His Word
What impressed the casting director most was Khanna’s professionalism. Unlike many in the industry who might “ghost” a project after a narration, Khanna took the script home, read it the same night, and called back the very next day to confirm his participation.
Chhabra noted that Khanna is “not bothered by anything else” except the craft. “He only wants to act; he only thinks about the script,” Chhabra stated, highlighting that the actor’s dedication was evident from the moment he decided to make that long commute from Alibaug.
The Result: A Box Office Phenomenon
Khanna’s portrayal of Rehman Dakait has since become the highlight of Dhurandhar, with many critics and fans arguing that he stole the show.
The film has crossed the ₹500 crore mark at the box office, and its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, is already shattering records in 2026.
Chhabra concluded by mentioning that many actors who initially turned down the role now regret their decision, seeing how Khanna transformed a “villainous” part into a cultural sensation. To
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