Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar is fast becoming one of the most talked-about films of recent times, primarily due to its gritty narrative and a great ensemble cast featuring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal. However, it is largely due to Akshaye Khanna‘s haunting portrayal of Rehman Dakait that people seem to be talking after the film. His controlled, understated performance has been lauded by critics and audiences alike as one of the film’s greatest points. It is a fact that not very many people knew that Akshaye Khanna was on the verge of being completely out of the film.
Mukesh Chhabra On Casting Akshaye Khanna In Dhurandhar
Casting director Mukesh Chhabra revealed how it took a lot of time and effort before the actor finally agreed to come on board. When Mukesh Chhabra got the assignment, it was already decided that Ranveer Singh would be the lead. That can sometimes make other actors a little bit uncomfortable. Despite that, Mukesh did not lose sight of the fact that every role deserved his utmost attention. Even though director Aditya Dhar was a bit skeptical about the necessity of such perseverance, Mukesh went on.
As per a News18 report, the hardest part of the job was to get Akshaye Khanna on the team. Mukesh shared that the very first time he reached out to Akshaye, the reply was not at all supportive. Akshaye, who is known for his candidness, was somewhat taken aback by the offer and questioned the casting decision most vigorously, especially since Mukesh hadn’t even seen one of his latest critically praised movies at that time.
Chhabra, however, did not relent. He insisted that Akshaye at least hear the script before he made a decision. The actor, unwillingly, agreed and asked for details about the meeting, as he is usually away from the typical film circles of Mumbai. A brief narration, as intended, turned into an intense four-hour discussion with Mukesh and Aditya Dhar. Akshaye was listening to the story in complete silence; he was taking in every single detail. At the end of it, his response shocked everyone.
He confessed that he found the script to be much more interesting than he had anticipated, and he even suggested that the character might be artistically stimulating. The team still had to wait two more days nervously for the final decision. The moment when the call was made, it was brief and very certain. Akshaye Khanna was on board.