Some performances arrive quietly and then suddenly take over the Internet, and Akshaye Khanna is living that moment once again. His slow, magnetic dance entry in the recently released Dhurandhar, especially in the FA9LA track, has sent fans into frenzy. The mysterious smile, the controlled menace and the chilling grace of the sequence have reminded audiences of the unique screen presence he carries, the kind that stays with you long after the scene ends.
But before this new wave of appreciation, Akshaye Khanna’s career had almost taken a very different direction. Many don’t know that he was once the first choice for one of the most loved characters of Bollywood. The role eventually became iconic through Aamir Khan in Taare Zameen Par but the story behind how it reached him is even more interesting.
Aamir Khan once revealed in an interview that he had requested director Amole Gupte to narrate the script to him, not because he wanted the role but because he hoped to personally recommend it to Akshaye Khanna who was a close friend. Months later, after hearing the narration, Aamir fell in love with the story and told Amole that he would immediately call Akshaye. But something made him pause, he wondered why the part wasn’t offered to him directly. Amole admitted that he had never imagined Aamir Khan would take up the role but insisted he actually wanted him in the film. And that unexpected turn of events is how Aamir ended up playing the lead.
Away from the camera, Akshaye Khanna has always been private and reserved, which only adds to his enigmatic charm. His personal life has often intrigued fans, especially his long-term relationship with actress Tara Sharma. The two were reportedly together for years and there were even claims of an engagement before the relationship eventually ended quietly.
Now as 2025 unfolds, Akshaye Khanna finds himself at the centre of renewed admiration. With his powerful performances in Chhaava and Dhurandhar and his viral dance sequence captivating millions, he has once again proven that brilliance may sometimes take its time to be noticed but it never goes unnoticed forever.
