Akshaye Khanna Not Returning for ‘Dhurandhar 2’ Despite Rumors, Source Confirms

Following the unprecedented success of “Dhurandhar” as the highest-grossing film in Hindi cinema history, rumors circulated that Akshaye Khanna would return to shoot additional scenes for the upcoming sequel. However, these reports have now been definitively debunked by industry insiders.

Khanna’s portrayal of Rehman Dakait in the 2025 blockbuster earned him widespread critical acclaim and numerous awards. The character’s death in the film’s climax initially seemed to preclude any appearance in the planned follow-up, disappointing fans who had embraced the villain as one of Hindi cinema’s most compelling antagonists.

Recent industry reports had suggested that director Aditya Dhar planned a one-week shooting schedule with Khanna to expand Rehman’s backstory and add depth to the character’s arc. These rumors sparked excitement among fans eager to see more of the performance that helped propel the original film to box office dominance.

“Akshaye Khanna has neither shot for ‘Dhurandhar 2’ after the release of the first part, nor is he scheduled to shoot,” a production source told Bollywood Hungama. “Aditya Dhar has already filmed both parts together and has no plans to add more screen time for Rehman just because the character has amassed a fan following.”

The source emphasized that Dhar’s commitment to authentic storytelling was key to the first film’s success. “One of the reasons ‘Dhurandhar’ worked wonders is Aditya’s honest filmmaking; it was a genuine effort and audiences could sense it. He wants to continue with that endeavour in the sequel as well. He won’t cash in on it; that’s just not him.”

This revelation aligns with Dhar’s previously stated vision for the franchise as a carefully planned narrative rather than a commercially-driven series of films. Industry analysts have noted that the director’s artistic integrity likely contributed significantly to the original film’s cultural impact and financial success.

While the news may disappoint fans hoping for expanded screen time for Khanna’s character, the source did confirm that Rehman will still appear in the sequel through scenes filmed during the original production. “Akshaye Khanna does appear in a few scenes in ‘Dhurandhar 2’ as well, which were shot long ago. Hence, his fans would get to see Rehman once more in ‘Dhurandhar 2.'”

The source also addressed separate rumors about potential reshoots for the sequel, clarifying that only standard patchwork filming has taken place rather than significant narrative revisions.

“Dhurandhar” featured an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi. The film’s success has raised expectations for its sequel to unprecedented levels, with pre-release tracking suggesting it could potentially surpass even its predecessor’s record-breaking performance.

The clarification regarding Khanna’s role comes as “Dhurandhar 2” enters its final post-production phase. Industry insiders report that the sequel will explore the aftermath of the events depicted in the first film while introducing new characters and expanding the fictional universe created by Dhar.

The film represents one of the most anticipated releases in recent Hindi cinema history, with marketing campaigns expected to begin in earnest in the coming months ahead of its scheduled release later this year.