Akshaye Khanna Was Initially Unhappy With His Dhurandhar Look, Reveals Costume Designer
Actor Akshaye Khanna is currently basking in widespread acclaim for his chilling portrayal of Rehman Dakait in Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller Dhurandhar. While audiences have been captivated by the character’s ruthless presence and controlled menace, a recent behind-the-scenes revelation shows that the iconic look of Rehman Dakait was the result of detailed collaboration, careful thought, and even initial hesitation from the actor himself.
Costume designer Smriti Chauhan recently spoke about working on Dhurandhar during an episode of Unfolding Talents (UT) on the Digital Commentary YouTube channel. She revealed that Akshaye was deeply involved in shaping his character’s appearance and was not instantly convinced by the first costume ideas presented to him.
According to Chauhan, the original plan was to dress Akshaye primarily in traditional pathanis. However, the actor felt the look needed more layers and realism. He suggested incorporating kurta-and-jeans combinations to better reflect Rehman Dakait’s background. Explaining the reasoning, Chauhan said, “It was a very important input by Akshaye sir himself, that we should not forget that he is also from the streets.”
This shift helped visually map the character’s journey in the film. As Rehman rises in power and eventually aligns himself with a political party, his wardrobe evolves too. Chauhan added that the film shows him first in distressed linens and denims before transitioning to silk-wool pathanis, calling it “one of the most important looks in the film.”
She also recalled several rounds of costume trials, including pathanis with heavy embroidery. Despite the effort, Akshaye remained unconvinced. At one point, the actor candidly admitted, “I’m not sure if we take this route.” Chauhan explained that her challenge was to retain a sense of ruggedness, ensuring the character never appeared overly polished or disconnected from his origins.
One of the film’s most talked-about sequences the Fa9la scene posed a different challenge altogether. Chauhan revealed that colour coordination became tricky as everyone in the sequence was meant to wear white. Initially, the plan was to dress the dancers in black. However, cultural authenticity won out. She explained that traditional Balochi attire heavily features white, prompting director Aditya Dhar to suggest sticking to that original look.
To ensure Rehman Dakait stood apart, the team decided to dress Akshaye entirely in black. Chauhan noted that this decision was especially significant since the character is awarded the title Sher-E-Baloch. While several colour options were discussed, she was clear about the final choice and said she stayed rooted in Balochi culture by opting for a Balochi pathani for Akshaye.
Written, directed, and co-produced by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar boasts a powerful ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi. Madhavan plays Ajay Sanyal, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, while Akshaye essays the role of the feared Baloch gang leader.
The film follows the high-stakes journey of Jaskirat Singh Rangi, also known as Hamza Ali Mazari, played by Ranveer Singh, as he infiltrates Rehman Dakait’s gang to pass sensitive intelligence to India. Released on December 5, Dhurandhar has enjoyed a stellar run at the box office, collecting over ₹607 crore in India and emerging as one of the biggest hits of the year.
Costume designer Smriti Chauhan recently spoke about working on Dhurandhar during an episode of Unfolding Talents (UT) on the Digital Commentary YouTube channel. She revealed that Akshaye was deeply involved in shaping his character’s appearance and was not instantly convinced by the first costume ideas presented to him.
According to Chauhan, the original plan was to dress Akshaye primarily in traditional pathanis. However, the actor felt the look needed more layers and realism. He suggested incorporating kurta-and-jeans combinations to better reflect Rehman Dakait’s background. Explaining the reasoning, Chauhan said, “It was a very important input by Akshaye sir himself, that we should not forget that he is also from the streets.”
This shift helped visually map the character’s journey in the film. As Rehman rises in power and eventually aligns himself with a political party, his wardrobe evolves too. Chauhan added that the film shows him first in distressed linens and denims before transitioning to silk-wool pathanis, calling it “one of the most important looks in the film.”
She also recalled several rounds of costume trials, including pathanis with heavy embroidery. Despite the effort, Akshaye remained unconvinced. At one point, the actor candidly admitted, “I’m not sure if we take this route.” Chauhan explained that her challenge was to retain a sense of ruggedness, ensuring the character never appeared overly polished or disconnected from his origins.
One of the film’s most talked-about sequences the Fa9la scene posed a different challenge altogether. Chauhan revealed that colour coordination became tricky as everyone in the sequence was meant to wear white. Initially, the plan was to dress the dancers in black. However, cultural authenticity won out. She explained that traditional Balochi attire heavily features white, prompting director Aditya Dhar to suggest sticking to that original look.
To ensure Rehman Dakait stood apart, the team decided to dress Akshaye entirely in black. Chauhan noted that this decision was especially significant since the character is awarded the title Sher-E-Baloch. While several colour options were discussed, she was clear about the final choice and said she stayed rooted in Balochi culture by opting for a Balochi pathani for Akshaye.
Written, directed, and co-produced by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar boasts a powerful ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi. Madhavan plays Ajay Sanyal, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, while Akshaye essays the role of the feared Baloch gang leader.
The film follows the high-stakes journey of Jaskirat Singh Rangi, also known as Hamza Ali Mazari, played by Ranveer Singh, as he infiltrates Rehman Dakait’s gang to pass sensitive intelligence to India. Released on December 5, Dhurandhar has enjoyed a stellar run at the box office, collecting over ₹607 crore in India and emerging as one of the biggest hits of the year.
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