As Dhurandhar releases, look at Akshaye Khanna`s 12 best performances

Updated On: 05 December, 2025 03:05 PM IST | Aakruti Bagla

With Dhurandhar finally in theatres, the spotlight is once again on Akshaye Khanna, the actor who always leaves an impact with strong roles. Over the years, he has delivered performances that linger long after the credits roll. As audiences appreciate his latest outing, it’s the perfect moment to revisit the roles that showcased his brilliance.

1/13

<p>In Dhurandhar, Akshaye Khanna stars as Rehman Dakait - Apex Predator. He is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the political landscape of Pakistan, as depicted in the Dhurandhar trailer. He is suave, ruthless, and, in his own words, kills like a kasai - a butcher.</p>

2/13

In Dhurandhar, Akshaye Khanna stars as Rehman Dakait - Apex Predator. He is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the political landscape of Pakistan, as depicted in the Dhurandhar trailer. He is suave, ruthless, and, in his own words, kills like a kasai - a butcher.

<p>Akshaye Khanna delivers a striking performance as Aurangzeb in Chhaava, bringing a cold, calculating intensity to the Mughal emperor. Nearly unrecognisable in his transformed look, he commands the screen with a quiet menace.</p>

3/13

Akshaye Khanna delivers a striking performance as Aurangzeb in Chhaava, bringing a cold, calculating intensity to the Mughal emperor. Nearly unrecognisable in his transformed look, he commands the screen with a quiet menace.

<p>Akshaye Khanna’s performance in Drishyam 2 stands out for its sharpness. He plays IG Tarun Ahlawat, who intimidates Vijay Salgaonkar`s (Ajay Devgn) family to expose the truth behind Meera Deshmukh`s son`s murder.</p>

4/13

Akshaye Khanna’s performance in Drishyam 2 stands out for its sharpness. He plays IG Tarun Ahlawat, who intimidates Vijay Salgaonkar`s (Ajay Devgn) family to expose the truth behind Meera Deshmukh`s son`s murder.

<p>Akshaye Khanna plays Rajiv Singh, the ambitious and cunning younger stepbrother to Saif Ali Khan`s character, Ranvir. Rajiv appears sweet but harbors deep-seated jealousy.</p>

5/13

Akshaye Khanna plays Rajiv Singh, the ambitious and cunning younger stepbrother to Saif Ali Khan`s character, Ranvir. Rajiv appears sweet but harbors deep-seated jealousy.

<p>In Abbas-Mustan`s thriller Humraaz, Akshay deviated from his boy-next-door persona and played a negative role. He played the role Karan, a con man who finds himself in a twisted love triangle with Bobby Deol and Ameesha Patel.</p>

6/13

In Abbas-Mustan`s thriller Humraaz, Akshay deviated from his boy-next-door persona and played a negative role. He played the role Karan, a con man who finds himself in a twisted love triangle with Bobby Deol and Ameesha Patel.

<p>This Farhan Akhtar film is one of the brightest gems in Akshaye’s career. As Siddharth Sinha, Khanna brought the right amount of emotional maturity. He plays the role of a mature artist, who is in love with an older woman (played by Dimple Kapadia). </p>

7/13

This Farhan Akhtar film is one of the brightest gems in Akshaye’s career. As Siddharth Sinha, Khanna brought the right amount of emotional maturity. He plays the role of a mature artist, who is in love with an older woman (played by Dimple Kapadia).

<p>Akshaye Khanna gives a powerful performance in Aakrosh as CBI officer Siddhant Chaturvedi, a man driven by duty and an unwavering sense of justice. His camaraderie with Ajay Devgn stood out.</p>

8/13

Akshaye Khanna gives a powerful performance in Aakrosh as CBI officer Siddhant Chaturvedi, a man driven by duty and an unwavering sense of justice. His camaraderie with Ajay Devgn stood out.

<p>Akshaye Khanna delivers a gripping performance in Ittefaq as Dev, the sharp and unrelenting police officer determined to untangle a double-murder mystery.</p>

9/13

Akshaye Khanna delivers a gripping performance in Ittefaq as Dev, the sharp and unrelenting police officer determined to untangle a double-murder mystery.

<p>Akshaye Khanna steals the show in Tees Maar Khan as the dramatic and over-the-top superstar Atish Kapoor. He delivers one of the film’s funniest and most memorable performances.</p>

10/13

Akshaye Khanna steals the show in Tees Maar Khan as the dramatic and over-the-top superstar Atish Kapoor. He delivers one of the film’s funniest and most memorable performances.

<p>As a sharp and morally ambiguous lawyer, Khanna owned the screen with his commanding presence and riveting courtroom arguments in Section 375, making this one of his most intense performances.</p>

11/13

As a sharp and morally ambiguous lawyer, Khanna owned the screen with his commanding presence and riveting courtroom arguments in Section 375, making this one of his most intense performances.

<p>In this Subhash Ghai Taal, Akshaye portrayed a charming yet conflicted lover caught between love and family expectations. His chemistry with Aishwarya Rai and intense emotional scenes stood out.</p>

12/13

In this Subhash Ghai Taal, Akshaye portrayed a charming yet conflicted lover caught between love and family expectations. His chemistry with Aishwarya Rai and intense emotional scenes stood out.

<p>The biggest hit of 1997 saw a fresh-faced Akshaye Khanna play the role of Lieutenant Dharamvir Singh, an inexperienced young soldier. His performance was a touching blend of innocence, determination, and emotional fragility.</p>

13/13

The biggest hit of 1997 saw a fresh-faced Akshaye Khanna play the role of Lieutenant Dharamvir Singh, an inexperienced young soldier. His performance was a touching blend of innocence, determination, and emotional fragility.

Photo of Day

Bliss by the beach

A photographer holds up the lights during a photo session by the Madh Island seashore. PIC/NIMESH DAVE

Home / Entertainment / Bollywood News / Photos / As Dhurandhar releases, look at Akshaye Khanna`s 12 best performances

As Dhurandhar releases, look at Akshaye Khanna`s 12 best performances

Tags

Photo of Day

Bliss by the beach