‘Audiences Never Ignored Akshaye Khanna’: Priyadarshan on Actor’s Powerful Comeback

Akshaye Khanna is grabbing headlines with his powerful performance in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar.

While many have praised his menacing turn as the antagonist, others have drawn parallels to Bobby Deol’s viral ‘Jamal Kodu’ moment, thanks to the film’s hit Arabic track FA9LA.

Both actors have delivered breakthrough performances this year. Akshaye earned acclaim for Chhaava and Dhurandhar, whereas Bobby Deol’s role in The Ba**ds of Bollywood* further strengthened his resurgence, adding to the momentum he built after Animal and reinforcing his ‘Lord Bobby’ fandom.

Priyadarshan on Akshaye Khanna’s Standout Run

In a conversation with Hindustan Times, filmmaker Priyadarshan, who has worked with Akshaye multiple times, said, “Look at Akshaye’s performance even in Drishyam 2. It’s not just Gen Z; people have always loved him.”

He added, “Earlier PR and the media shaped an actor’s image, but today, audiences decide for themselves. If everyone is talking about Akshaye today, it means he was always a genuinely favourite artiste. Award shows may have ignored him, but for me, he’s among the top five actors of the last 20 years.”

‘He Deserves Even More Success,’ Says Laxman Utekar

Director Laxman Utekar, who cast Akshaye as Aurangzeb in Chhaava, echoed the admiration. “I had only Akshaye in mind for the role. His craft, his physicality… when we did his look test, it was magical,” he said.
“The recognition he’s getting now with Dhurandhar—he deserves even more than what Chhaava and Dhurandhar have given him.”

Bobby Deol’s Resurgence Continues

Meanwhile, producer Ramesh Taurani—who backed Bobby Deol’s 2018 comeback film Race 3—said he is thrilled to see the actor back in top form. “Bobby was a star even before his debut. The craze around him was unbelievable. He’s not only good-looking, he’s now a solid actor too,” he said.

‘It’s About the Right Role,’ Says Komal Nahta

Trade analyst Komal Nahta believes both actors owe their resurgence to strong character choices. “It’s all about getting the right role,” he said. “Bobby had a small part in Animal, but it made a massive impact. Akshaye should continue signing more films and not step back after Chhaava and Dhurandhar.”