The gangster drama 'Dhurandhar' continues to roar at the box office, collecting heavy praise from audiences and critics alike. A significant portion of the acclaim is directed at Akshaye Khanna's chilling portrayal of the gang lord Rehman Dakait, with many highlighting his calm yet powerful screen presence. However, co-star Naveen Kaushik, who played a close aide to Dakait in the film, believes this well-deserved praise has inadvertently cast a shadow on Ranveer Singh's exceptional performance.
On-Set Dynamics: Two Worlds Apart
In a revealing conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Naveen Kaushik shed light on the contrasting working styles of the two lead actors, which mirrored their on-screen personas. He shared that his experience working with both gave him a clear lens into their distinct approaches.
Ranveer Singh, according to Naveen, was always friendly and inclusive on set, treating fellow actors as pals. Akshaye Khanna, in stark contrast, maintained a deliberate distance. Naveen, who played a key member of Dakait's gang, explained that this wasn't aloofness but deep immersion. "Akshaye Khanna stayed in his own space, mostly because he was deeply invested in his character," he noted.
This separation even bled into off-camera moments, perfectly reflecting the film's hierarchy. "The on-screen dynamic translated into real life. You'd see all the gang members sitting together, laughing, while Rehman Dakait would sit a little apart. That's how it was throughout the shoot," Naveen recounted.
Akshaye Khanna: Not Cold, Just Deep in Character
Naveen was quick to clarify that Akshaye was never rude. "If we went up to him, he would speak very warmly. But once the conversation ended, he would retreat back into his space," he said. Describing it as a form of method acting, Naveen drew parallels between the actor and the character: "Just like Rehman Dakait, who stays quiet, observes, and remains unpredictable, Akshaye sir was quite similar in real life."
The key takeaway was Akshaye's singular focus. He consciously stayed away from any off-set noise or drama, channeling all his energy into embodying the quiet, intimidating presence of Rehman Dakait.
The Case for Ranveer Singh's Overlooked Brilliance
While praising Akshaye's iconic creation, Naveen Kaushik expressed a strong sense of injustice regarding Ranveer Singh's reception. He argued that the sheer difficulty of Ranveer's role is being underestimated.
"Akshaye sir has created an iconic character, but what Ranveer has done is extremely difficult," Naveen stated. He pointed to the actor's nuanced choices, including his voice modulation and physical restraint. For someone as naturally energetic as Ranveer to suppress that and play a deliberately understated character was a monumental task.
He cited a perfect example: the famous 'FA9LA' song sequence. "Everyone in the scene is dancing, except Ranveer Singh. To restrain yourself in a moment like that is incredibly hard," Naveen emphasized.
He concluded by highlighting Ranveer's professional integrity. Naveen explained that in the film's command structure, Akshaye's character comes first, then Danish's, and then Ranveer's. "If Ranveer had ego issues, he could have easily tried to draw focus to himself, but he didn't. He stayed true to his character and allowed someone else to shine," Naveen said, applauding Ranveer's honesty and commitment to the film's vision over personal spotlight.
