As Dhurandhar continues its impressive run in theatres, conversations around the film are growing louder, both for its success and for the performances driving it. Akshaye Khanna’s portrayal of a cold and dangerous gangster has earned widespread praise, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about elements of the film. Alongside the applause, a few rumours began circulating online, suggesting that co-star R Madhavan might be feeling overshadowed by the attention Akshaye Khanna has received.
R Madhavan has now addressed the speculation and put it to rest with warmth and clarity. Speaking in an interview, he made it clear that there is no bitterness or discomfort on his part. Instead, he expressed genuine happiness for Akshaye and admiration for his work. Madhavan shared that Akshaye Khanna fully deserves the recognition coming his way, calling him an exceptionally talented actor who remains refreshingly unaffected by fame or praise.
He went on to reflect on Akshaye’s quiet nature, noting how he prefers staying away from constant public attention even at the peak of success. According to Madhavan, Akshaye has always valued privacy and balance, treating success and failure with the same calm outlook. That grounded attitude, he felt, made Akshaye’s achievement even more admirable.
For Madhavan, simply being part of Dhurandhar is a source of pride. He described the film as a landmark project and said that he feels grateful to be associated with it. He also highlighted that neither Akshaye Khanna nor director Aditya Dhar seems interested in chasing publicity or capitalising aggressively on the film’s success, choosing instead to let the work speak for itself.
Written, directed and co-produced by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar features an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi. In the film, Madhavan plays Ajay Sanyal, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, while Akshaye Khanna appears as Rehman Dakait, the leader of a powerful Baloch gang. Together, their performances have added depth to a film that continues to leave a strong mark at the box office.
