Actor Akshaye Khanna is earning widespread praise for his intense portrayal of Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar, but the role almost went to someone else. In fact, three actors had declined the part before it eventually landed in his hands.
Casting director Mukesh Chhabra has now revealed that the character — now considered one of the highlights of the film — was initially rejected by multiple actors for unexpected reasons.
Why Did Actors Reject the Role?
In a recent interaction, Chhabra shared that two Bollywood actors and one from the South industry turned down the role. Without naming them, he explained that their hesitation stemmed from the film being perceived as a hero-centric project.
“They said it’s an ensemble cast and that it’s essentially Ranveer Singh’s film,” Chhabra said, adding that such reasoning disappointed him, as casting decisions are made after considerable thought.
Despite the rejections, director Aditya Dhar remained confident about his vision and was unfazed by the setback.
How Akshaye Khanna Came Onboard
After the initial refusals, Chhabra approached Akshaye Khanna — a decision that proved pivotal. According to him, the actor responded almost immediately, listened to the narration, and was impressed by the script.
Within a day, Akshaye agreed to take on the role, sealing the casting of Rehman Dakait.
Chhabra praised Akshaye for trusting his instincts, noting that he is among the rare actors who make decisions independently rather than being influenced by external opinions.
A Standout Performance
Akshaye’s portrayal of the ruthless Lyari-based ganglord has been widely appreciated since the release of Dhurandhar, with audiences highlighting his menacing screen presence and layered performance.
About the Film and Its Sequel
Set against the gritty backdrop of Lyari in Karachi — an area historically associated with gang violence — Dhurandhar explores covert intelligence operations intertwined with major geopolitical events such as the Kandahar plane hijacking, the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The film also features Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun in key roles.
The sequel, released on March 19, delves deeper into the backstory of Ranveer Singh’s character, Hamza alias Jaskirat Singh Rangi, while advancing the narrative around power struggles in Lyari and efforts to dismantle a terror network operating from Pakistan.