While Dhurandhar continues its victorious march at the box office, Ranveer Singh isn’t the only one earning praise. A surprising breakout star of the film’s most talked-about moments has been Akshaye Khanna, whose portrayal of Rehman Dakait has suddenly taken over timelines, reels, and discussions outside theatres.
The performance has reminded audiences of something they often forget — when Akshaye Khanna enters a frame, he does not share it; he owns it.
A Scene That Was Never Planned — But Instantly Iconic
One of the biggest highlights of Dhurandhar has been Akshaye’s now-viral dance sequence set to the Arabic track FA9LA, performed by Bahrainian rapper Flipperachi. The internet has been looping this clip for days, fascinated by his swagger, stillness, and almost hypnotic charisma.
But the twist?
The entire dance was never choreographed.
In a conversation with Mid-Day, choreographer Vijay Ganguly revealed that Akshaye was originally meant to make a simple entrance, walk past the dancers, and sit on the throne as his character is crowned Sher-E-Baloch.
But on the day of the shoot, Akshaye watched the dancers, felt the energy in the room — and quietly decided to improvise.
“No one knew what he was going to do,” Ganguly explained. “He entered the scene and just took over. Everything he did was spontaneous.”
The result is one of the film’s standout moments — unpredictable, electric, and dripping with attitude that only Akshaye could deliver.
Shot in Harsh Conditions — But You’d Never Know It
What makes this performance even more impressive is the secret behind the scenes. The film’s Ladakh schedule was particularly demanding, with sub-zero temperatures and low oxygen levels challenging the cast.
Vijay Ganguly revealed that Akshaye actually battled high-altitude sickness during the shoot.
He carried a portable oxygen cylinder, and between takes, he would immediately place the mask on to stabilise himself — only to remove it moments later and deliver the intense, authoritative performance fans now cannot stop praising.
Despite the physical strain, Akshaye did not compromise on a single shot. “He did the sequence unflinchingly, and only went home after we were done,” Ganguly said.
The Internet’s Obsession Returns
Akshaye Khanna has always enjoyed a cult-like following — from Border and Dil Chahta Hai to more recent roles in Section 375 and Drishyam 2. But his turn as Rehman Dakait seems to have reignited an era of Akshaye fandom the internet has missed for years.
The combination of unpredictability, poise, and quiet dominance has sparked a wave of edits, recreations, and fan tributes across platforms. Even those who haven’t yet watched Dhurandhar know one thing:
Akshaye’s dance is the moment.
Dhurandhar’s Roaring Box Office & What’s Next
The film, which also stars Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan and Rakesh Bedi, is dominating theatres nationwide after delivering one of the strongest opening weekends of the year. Trade circles are already predicting a long theatrical run, especially as word-of-mouth remains its biggest booster.
And for fans already asking what’s next — the makers have confirmed that Dhurandhar 2 is slated for release on March 19, 2026, hinting that the saga of Rehman Dakait is far from over.
Final Words
A moment that wasn’t rehearsed, performed during physical discomfort, and sparked a nationwide trend — Akshaye Khanna’s FA9LA sequence is proof that true screen presence doesn’t need choreography. It just needs the right actor walking into the right frame.
