Akshaye Khanna is grabbing headlines yet again, thanks to his outstanding performance in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar. While many have praised the actor’s chilling villainous avatar, others noted that Akshaye delivered a “Bobby Deol-style” Jamal Kodu moment, especially with the film’s viral Arabic track FA9LA.
This year has turned out to be a powerhouse of performances, with both Akshaye Khanna and Bobby Deol surprising fans and critics alike. Akshaye has been celebrated for his roles in Chhaava and Dhurandhar, while Bobby Deol’s unforgettable performance in The Ba*ds of Bollywood earned him the title of “Lord Bobby”, solidifying his massive comeback.
Filmmaker Priyadarshan, who has worked with Akshaye across multiple projects, praised the renewed attention the actor is finally receiving. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he said, “Look at Akshaye’s performance even in Drishyam 2. People have always loved him. Earlier, PR made an actor. Today, audiences decide. Akshaye was always a favourite artiste. Award shows ignored him, but I count him among the top five actors of the last 20 years.”
Laxman Utekar, who directed Akshaye in Chhaava, shared that he always envisioned him as Aurangzeb. “When we did his look test, it was magical,” he said. Utekar believes Akshaye deserves “even more success” after Dhurandhar.
On the other hand, Bobby Deol’s comeback continues to thrill the industry. Producer Ramesh Taurani expressed joy, saying, “Bobby was a star even before his debut. Now he’s a solid actor too.”
Trade analyst Komal Nahta noted that both actors highlight one truth: “It’s all about getting the right role.” He added that Akshaye should continue signing more films to build on his back-to-back successes.
