In a cinematic year largely defined by grand visual spectacles, veteran actor Akshaye Khanna carved out a unique and dominant space for himself. 2025 firmly established him as a decisive box office force, achieving a rare financial milestone typically reserved for top-billed superstars.
A Staggering Financial Achievement
Akshaye Khanna has entered an exceptionally exclusive club. With the combined worldwide earnings of his two major 2025 releases, he has surpassed the ₹2,000 crore mark globally within a single calendar year. This feat makes him only the second Indian actor to do so, following in the footsteps of Shah Rukh Khan, who achieved it in 2023.
Remarkably, this record was not built on the back of conventional star-driven vehicles where he played the lead. Instead, Akshaye's path to this milestone was paved through two powerful performances in antagonist roles, which became the anchoring force behind the year's biggest Hindi commercial successes.
The Two-Part Triumph: Chhaava and Dhurandhar
The momentum began early in the year with Chhaava, directed by Laxman Utekar and starring Vicky Kaushal. Released in January 2025, the historical drama featured Akshaye Khanna in the role of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. While the film was celebrated for its scale, Akshaye's restrained yet menacing performance garnered significant critical praise. Chhaava went on to gross approximately ₹809 crore worldwide, holding the title of the highest-grossing Indian film for several months.
If Chhaava set the stage, the December blockbuster Dhurandhar sealed this exceptional year. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy thriller featured an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. Despite the star power, it was Akshaye's portrayal of the gangster Rehman Dakait that captured sustained audience attention and strong word-of-mouth. The film became the most successful Hindi film domestically in 2025, earning ₹1,167 crore worldwide and was expected to add another ₹25 crore shortly after its 30-day run.
Understanding the Rarity of This Feat
This box office achievement places Akshaye Khanna in truly rare company. Shah Rukh Khan remains the only other Indian actor to cross ₹2,000 crore in a year, with Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki collectively grossing ₹2,685 crore in 2023. While Aamir Khan's Dangal crossed the figure, its earnings were spread across two years due to a staggered release in China. Other major stars like Prabhas and Allu Arjun have come close with individual films but fell short of the annual multi-film benchmark.
The significance of Akshaye's year lies in its composition. Three decades into his career, his box office dominance in 2025 underscores a shifting paradigm in audience preferences. It highlights a growing appetite for well-written, layered antagonists whose impact can rival that of the protagonist. His success story is a powerful reminder that in contemporary Hindi cinema, the measure of stardom is increasingly defined by the depth of impact and performance quality, rather than just the billing order on a poster.
By anchoring the narratives of the year's two biggest Hindi commercial hits through character roles, Akshaye Khanna has not just delivered a financial masterclass but also redefined the parameters of cinematic influence and success.
