The monumental success of the blockbuster Dhurandhar continues to generate headlines, but a fresh controversy has now emerged, shifting focus from box office numbers to actor Akshaye Khanna. A journalist's critical remark about Khanna's demeanor at an awards ceremony decades ago has ignited a social media firestorm, with fans rallying fiercely to defend the actor.
The Throwback Clip That Started It All
The controversy began when a journalist shared an old video clip from the 43rd Filmfare Awards on his Instagram story. The clip, originally posted by Filmfare, showed a young Akshaye Khanna accepting the Best Male Debut award for his performance in the 1997 war film Border. The reel was captioned, "Akshaye Khanna humbly accepts his debut award."
Mocking this caption, the journalist wrote, "He was not at all humble or self-effacing when he accepted the award." He further added, "Poor Sandhya asked him a question and he snapped back asking why this should be a question-and-answer session." Screenshots of this story quickly spread across platforms like Reddit, where the narrative was overwhelmingly challenged by netizens.
Fan Backlash and Defence of Khanna's Persona
The online reaction was swift and largely in support of Akshaye Khanna. Many users accused the journalist of jealousy, linking the criticism to the actor's current soaring popularity post-Dhurandhar. One popular comment read, "Mr no PR gang strikes again," highlighting Khanna's known aversion to publicity stunts.
Another user pointedly stated, "Dhurandhar’s success has really angered some people, especially Akshaye and Ranveer’s rivals. They’re so jealous of this massive success." Several fans contextualized Khanna's past behavior, explaining it as part of his introverted and straightforward personality. "Wasn’t he right to ask that question? It was an award acceptance, not an interview," argued one user. Another added, "Everyone knows Akshaye Khanna is straightforward. He never claims to be humble."
Dhurandhar's Unstoppable Box Office Run
This personal controversy unfolds against the backdrop of Dhurandhar's historic commercial performance. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film has become a cultural phenomenon. Within just 20 days of release, it has amassed a staggering Rs 960 crore worldwide. In India alone, it earned Rs 20 crore on its third Wednesday, demonstrating exceptional holding power.
This box office haul has officially made Dhurandhar the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 and the highest-grossing A-rated Indian film globally, surpassing the lifetime collections of Animal. While praised for its cinematic scale and performances—particularly by Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna—the film has also faced its share of debate, with some critics labeling it propaganda and actor Hrithik Roshan publicly disagreeing with its political undertones.
Despite the noise, the juggernaut shows no signs of slowing. The cast, including Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and Akshaye Khanna, is set to return for Dhurandhar: Part 2, slated for release on March 19, 2026.
