Casting director Mukesh Chhabra has revealed that the acclaimed role of Rehman Dakait in the film Dhurandhar, eventually played by Akshaye Khanna, was initially turned down by three prominent actors.
According to Chhabra, the actors—one from South Indian cinema and two from Bollywood declined the part due to concerns regarding the film’s structure.
The actors felt that because the film was an ensemble cast, it was primarily Ranveer Singh’s film, leading them to worry about their screen space and prominence.
Chhabra described this reasoning as “weird logic” and expressed disappointment, but noted that director Aditya Dhar remained unfazed and encouraged moving on to other options.
In contrast to the earlier rejections, Akshaye Khanna accepted the role almost immediately.
It was a decisive decision. After hearing the script, Khanna trusted his instincts and agreed to the part within a day.
His portrayal of the ruthless ganglord was highlighted as one of the most talked-about aspects of the film.
News Edit KV Raman