How Akshaye Khanna Became Rehman Dakait In Dhurandhar: A Look At The Intense Makeover
Akshaye Khanna’s powerful on-screen presence in Dhurandhar has left audiences intrigued, and much of that impact comes from his meticulously crafted transformation into Rehman Dakait. Now, makeup and character designer Preetisheel Singh has revealed the detailed creative process that went into shaping the actor’s intense look.
Sharing behind-the-scenes photographs on Instagram, Preetisheel offered a rare glimpse into the transformation, accompanied by an insightful note on her approach. “Designing the legendary #AkshayeKhanna’s look for Dhurandhar was all about capturing the subtle intensity he brings to every frame,” she wrote. “We built his appearance around clean structures, controlled detailing, and tones that highlight his strong features without overpowering the character. Watching the look come alive through his performance made the entire process incredibly rewarding.”
With Dhurandhar featuring a powerhouse ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and others, maintaining visual balance was crucial. Preetisheel explained that while the film demanded a cohesive, gritty aesthetic, each character needed a distinct identity. “I put a lot of thought into even the secondary and tertiary characters because they each had their own quirks and unique traits,” she said.
Authenticity remained at the heart of the design philosophy. Preetisheel stressed that rawness and realism were essential to grounding the characters in the film’s intense narrative. “Showing their rawness through makeup was important to me. Adding detailed layers and textures helped bring out who they really were, making even the briefest appearances feel real. Hair became a key storytelling tool, evolving across the film to show time, pressure, and emotional shifts.”
She further revealed that minute details such as scars, tanning, sweat, dust and blood effects were executed with strict continuity. “Some of the prosthetics are genuinely stomach-churning,” she added, underlining the physical realism achieved through advanced makeup techniques.
Preetisheel Singh D’souza is widely regarded as one of India’s leading character designers. A National Award winner, she has previously created iconic looks for films such as Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, Pushpa: The Rise, Haider, Andhadhun, Mom and Master. Along with her husband Mark D’souza, she runs Da Makeup Lab, India’s premier prosthetics and makeup studio, known for pushing the boundaries of cinematic transformation.
Sharing behind-the-scenes photographs on Instagram, Preetisheel offered a rare glimpse into the transformation, accompanied by an insightful note on her approach. “Designing the legendary #AkshayeKhanna’s look for Dhurandhar was all about capturing the subtle intensity he brings to every frame,” she wrote. “We built his appearance around clean structures, controlled detailing, and tones that highlight his strong features without overpowering the character. Watching the look come alive through his performance made the entire process incredibly rewarding.”
With Dhurandhar featuring a powerhouse ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and others, maintaining visual balance was crucial. Preetisheel explained that while the film demanded a cohesive, gritty aesthetic, each character needed a distinct identity. “I put a lot of thought into even the secondary and tertiary characters because they each had their own quirks and unique traits,” she said.
Authenticity remained at the heart of the design philosophy. Preetisheel stressed that rawness and realism were essential to grounding the characters in the film’s intense narrative. “Showing their rawness through makeup was important to me. Adding detailed layers and textures helped bring out who they really were, making even the briefest appearances feel real. Hair became a key storytelling tool, evolving across the film to show time, pressure, and emotional shifts.”
She further revealed that minute details such as scars, tanning, sweat, dust and blood effects were executed with strict continuity. “Some of the prosthetics are genuinely stomach-churning,” she added, underlining the physical realism achieved through advanced makeup techniques.
Preetisheel Singh D’souza is widely regarded as one of India’s leading character designers. A National Award winner, she has previously created iconic looks for films such as Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, Pushpa: The Rise, Haider, Andhadhun, Mom and Master. Along with her husband Mark D’souza, she runs Da Makeup Lab, India’s premier prosthetics and makeup studio, known for pushing the boundaries of cinematic transformation.
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