In a historic turn of events for Hindi cinema, veteran actor Akshaye Khanna has etched his name alongside megastar Shah Rukh Khan in an exclusive box office record. With the monumental success of the period spy thriller Dhurandhar, Khanna has now scored two domestic blockbusters crossing the Rs 500 crore mark within the same calendar year, a feat previously achieved only by Shah Rukh Khan in 2023.
Dhurandhar Surpasses SRK's Jawan and Pathaan
The Aditya Dhar-directed Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, has proven to be an unstoppable juggernaut at the Indian box office. As of December 29, 2025, the film has amassed a staggering Rs 690.47 crore in its domestic run within just 24 days of release. This colossal collection has allowed it to dethrone the earlier 2025 release, the period war drama Chhaava, to become the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year in India.
More significantly, Dhurandhar has now raced past the two Shah Rukh Khan blockbusters that defined 2023. It has surpassed the earnings of Pathaan, which collected Rs 543.09 crore domestically (with the Hindi version making Rs 524.53 crore). It has also edged past Jawan, which garnered Rs 640.25 crore overall (with the Hindi version at Rs 582.31 crore). Dhurandhar's single-version collection of Rs 690.47 crore places it firmly ahead of both iconic SRK films.
Akshaye Khanna's Unprecedented Double
While Dhurandhar marks a major comeback for lead actor Ranveer Singh, the film's record-breaking run has catapulted his co-star Akshaye Khanna into a rare stratosphere of box office achievers. Khanna was also a pivotal part of Chhaava, which was the highest-grossing Hindi film domestically before Dhurandhar claimed the crown.
This dual success means Akshaye Khanna now has two of Hindi cinema's biggest domestic grossers in a single year. He mirrors the milestone set by Shah Rukh Khan two years prior, when SRK delivered Pathaan and Jawan, both crossing Rs 500 crore domestically in 2023. In fact, Khanna's combined domestic tally for Dhurandhar and Chhaava stands at a mammoth Rs 1292.01 crore and counting, which is higher than the combined domestic total of SRK's two hits (Rs 1183.34 crore across all languages).
Mutual Respect Between the Record-Holders
The connection between the two record-holding actors goes beyond mere numbers. Shah Rukh Khan has publicly expressed his high regard for Akshaye Khanna's craft. Although they have never shared the screen, their paths crossed professionally on the 2017 thriller Ittefaq, which starred Khanna and was co-produced by SRK's Red Chillies Entertainment.
At the film's trailer launch, Shah Rukh Khan offered heartfelt praise for Khanna, highlighting his unique approach to acting. "He's always a little off beat. He's got a different beat that he dances to, and I find that interesting. He comes once in a while and creates something unfathomable. I really, really appreciate you as an actor," SRK had said. This admiration from one of India's biggest stars underscores the significance of Khanna's latest achievement, cementing his position as an actor capable of delivering both critical acclaim and monumental commercial success.
The year 2025 will be remembered as the year Akshaye Khanna, known for his nuanced performances, quietly ascended to join the king of Bollywood in one of the industry's most elite box office clubs.
