Akshaye Khanna’s striking portrayal of Pakistani gangster-turned-politician Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar has quickly become one of the film’s standout talking points. Critics, celebrities and audiences have all praised his meticulous restraint, quiet menace and magnetic screen presence—many even calling it his strongest performance in years. His ability to command attention without theatrics has reminded viewers why he remains one of Bollywood’s most versatile actors.
But while the admiration poured in, the internet did what it does best: celebrate in the most unexpected way possible. A decade-old meme from the 2010 film Tees Maar Khan resurfaced online, instantly going viral. In the iconic scene, Akshay Kumar’s smooth-talking conman—pretending to be a film director—convinces Akshaye Khanna’s superstar character to join his project. Fans humorously reshared the clip, joking that Akshay Kumar had “discovered” Akshaye and gifted India one of its finest performers.
The meme snowballed across social media until it finally reached Akshay Kumar himself. Reacting to a post that read, “Thank you director saab, for giving the nation such an amazing actor…”, Akshay delivered a signature witty response: “Kabhi ghamand nahi kiya bhai… kabhi ghamand nahi kiya.” His playful reply further ignited the meme fest, blending nostalgia for Tees Maar Khan with excitement around Dhurandhar’s continued success.
Thank you director saab, for giving the nation such an amazing actor..#Dhurandhar https://t.co/B57CtiOOUl pic.twitter.com/NhxYhnoMAR
— PRIYAM SHARMA (@Priyam_Akkian) December 10, 2025
Akshay Kumar has also been vocal about his appreciation for the film. On December 10, the actor shared a glowing review on X, saying he was “blown away” by Dhurandhar’s gripping storytelling. He praised director Aditya Dhar for crafting a powerful cinematic experience and applauded the overwhelming audience response that contributed to the film’s momentum at the box office.
Meanwhile, Dhurandhar’s success story continues to grow. The makers have officially announced a sequel titled Dhurandhar 2: Revenge, slated to release on March 19, 2026. The sequel is expected to face a major box office clash with Yash’s Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, making it one of the most highly anticipated battles of the year. Industry sources report that Netflix has acquired the digital rights to both Dhurandhar films for approximately ₹130 crore—₹65 crore per installment—marking one of the biggest OTT acquisitions of the year.
With meme culture, star fandom and blockbuster cinema all converging, Akshaye Khanna’s resurgence has become a moment of celebration across the industry.
