Casting director Mukesh Chhabra revealed the intense journey of convincing the notoriously selective Akshaye Khanna to play villain Rehman Dakait in the blockbuster Dhurandhar, describing a marathon 4-hour script narration that tested everyone’s patience.
Dhurandhar Casting Journey Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Actor | Akshaye Khanna (Rehman Dakait) |
| Initial Reaction | Scolded Mukesh Chhabra |
| Script Session | 4 hours long |
| Akshaye’s Response | “Pagal ho gaya hai” (You’ve gone crazy) |
| Film Success | ₹700+ crore at box office |
| Scene Stealer | Akshaye’s performance praised over leads |
The “Impossible” Casting Challenge
When Chhabra proposed Akshaye Khanna for the antagonist role, director Aditya Dhar initially dismissed the idea as overly ambitious. Despite having Ranveer Singh secured as the lead, Chhabra insisted on pursuing Bollywood’s biggest names for supporting roles—a strategy that bucked industry conventions.
“I said, Akshaye paaji will do it. And then we all jumped on it,” Mukesh recalled, though Khanna’s initial reaction was far from enthusiastic. The actor reportedly scolded the casting director for even offering such a challenging role.
Marathon Script Session Pays Off
The breakthrough came during an extraordinary 4-hour script narration where Khanna listened intently to every detail. His commitment to understanding the character deeply before committing demonstrates why his Rehman Dakait performance has become the talk of Bollywood, often overshadowing even the film’s star-studded ensemble. For more behind-the-scenes stories from Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters, explore technosports.co.in’s entertainment coverage.
The gamble paid off spectacularly—Dhurandhar has crossed ₹700 crore at the Indian box office, with Khanna’s portrayal earning universal acclaim. Film enthusiasts can find more casting insights and box office analysis on technosports.co.in.
