How Akshaye Khanna Was Cast as Rahman Dakait: Mukesh Chhabra on Dhurandhar

The casting of Akshaye Khanna as Rahman Dakait in Dhurandhar was not the result of strategy or market calculations, but pure instinct, casting director Mukesh Chhabra revealed while reflecting on the film’s journey and unprecedented success.

As Dhurandhar rewrote box office records and cultural conversations, Khanna’s performance emerged as one of the film’s biggest talking points — not only for its intensity but also for how unexpected the casting felt. According to Chhabra, the decision came from a creative leap rather than planning.

When Chhabra first heard the script, he realised the scale of the challenge ahead. With Ranveer Singh already on board, assembling an equally compelling ensemble was far from easy. In an industry where one major star often limits further casting choices, Dhurandhar demanded a different approach.

Chhabra said the film required a detailed “casting map” — not just for lead roles, but for hundreds of supporting characters that populated its expansive world. Authenticity in language, geography and cultural texture was critical, especially as the story unfolded across regions such as Karachi and Balochistan.

Initially, the team considered actors from the OTT space for Rahman Dakait. But Chhabra felt the role needed something bigger. When he suggested Akshaye Khanna’s name to director Aditya Dhar, the idea was met with disbelief.

What followed was a four-hour narration session, with Khanna listening intently, without entourage or distractions. By the end of it, the actor acknowledged the strength of the script. Though famously selective, Khanna soon committed to the role after revisiting the material, sealing what would become one of the film’s most defining choices.

Chhabra said watching Khanna’s portrayal resonate so strongly with audiences has been surreal. The success of Dhurandhar has also created a deep bond among the cast, including R Madhavan and Sanjay Dutt, with the team staying closely connected even after release.

Veteran actor Rakesh Bedi, who plays Jamil Jamal, also shared emotional moments with Chhabra, saying that despite decades in the industry, he had never felt the kind of recognition he experienced after Dhurandhar.

For Chhabra, the film reaffirmed his casting philosophy — to surprise audiences and dismantle the hierarchy between “big” and “small” names. He stressed that strong scripts naturally guide strong casting decisions, especially when directors like Aditya Dhar remain closely involved in every creative choice.

Nearly 400 actors were cast for Dhurandhar, yet Chhabra said the process never felt chaotic. With clarity of vision and commitment to storytelling, the casting aligned organically.

As the industry continues to analyse Dhurandhar’s impact, Chhabra maintains that success is never guaranteed. The team simply trusted the story and gave it everything they had — a risk that ultimately reshaped one of the biggest Indian films of the year.