Not Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna Was The Real MVP Of Dhurandhar; Here's Why
I was reminded of an old podcast where a comedian jokingly accused a superstar of chopping off his scenes in a film because the actor felt ‘threatened’ by his performance.
After watching Dhurandhar, I couldn’t help but imagine a similar scenario where Aditya Dhar is reassuring Ranveer Singh with a friendly pat on the back, saying, “Tera main scene agle part mein pakka hoga.”
Ranveer Singh, meanwhile, enjoys prime placement on the posters, appears in all the romantic tracks, and ticks every box expected from the quintessential Bollywood hero. Yet, despite all the flamboyance and star billing, Akshaye Khanna completely overshadows him. His screen presence is so commanding, so magnetic, that it becomes impossible to look at anyone else when he’s in the frame.
Part of this comes from the way their characters are positioned. Ranveer plays one of the trusted lieutenants in Rehman Dakait’s team; a role that naturally keeps him slightly in the shadows. On the other hand, Akshaye Khanna’s Rehman Dakait is written as a razor-sharp antagonist: no jokes, no theatrics, just cold intelligence and controlled menace. Khanna leans into this with remarkable restraint, delivering a performance that is slick, intimidating, and completely absorbing.
The result? Audiences found themselves cheering for Rehman Dakait, even though he’s the primary threat to India in the story. That’s the level of impact Akshaye creates. He doesn’t just act; he owns the atmosphere of the film.
Ranveer, by comparison, feels like he’s being held back for something bigger. And that ‘something’ may just be Dhurandhar Part 2
If the first film belonged to Akshaye Khanna, Part 2 might finally give Ranveer Singh the space