Mohan Kapur recently opened up about Akshaye Khanna's exceptional acting talent, the reasons behind his limited commercial success, and also lauded Ranveer Singh for his versatility and generosity as a performer.
Mohan Kapur on Akshaye Khanna's Brilliance
When asked why audiences now feel that Akshaye Khanna is finally receiving the recognition he has always deserved, Mohan stated that he has always considered Akshaye to be an extraordinary actor. In a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Mohan shared, "You are right. Akshaye Khanna has always been a very good performer. He is a brilliant actor. I do not know him personally, so I cannot say for sure, but people often mention that he is moody or selective. Perhaps he is moody, maybe he did not like the scripts offered to him, or maybe he simply wanted to take breaks and work on his own terms."
He added that some actors choose to step away and return only when they find something truly exciting. "Maybe he was on that kind of sabbatical where he felt, 'I will come back when I feel like it and when I find something worth doing.' Or maybe it is just destiny — sometimes your stars align later. But one thing is certain: he has always been a great actor."
Mohan Kapur on Akshaye Khanna's Performance in Dhurandhar
Discussing Akshaye's recent work in Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar, Mohan revealed that he watched the film only a couple of weeks before the second part released because he usually avoids films that are initially overhyped. "I watched it alone, and when I came out of the theatre, I understood why people were praising it so much. Everyone in the film did a phenomenal job. It is an extremely intelligent piece of storytelling," he said.
He explained that the film has sparked strong reactions because of how cleverly it blends fictional storytelling with real-life references. "It has its critics and admirers, and that is because it is very smartly written. They have taken real-life instances and woven them into a clever fictional plot that makes people think it is real."
Returning to Akshaye, Mohan added, "He was phenomenal in the film, but honestly, that is just Akshaye Khanna. He has always been that good. People are suddenly excited because they saw him in an avatar they had never seen before." Using an analogy, Mohan explained why Akshaye's return created such a strong impact among audiences. "If you eat biryani every single day, after a point, the excitement fades. But if you have it after a long gap, suddenly it feels amazing again. That is what happened with Akshaye Khanna. Audiences had not seen him in a long time, so it became a huge moment," he said.
Mohan Kapur Calls Ranveer Singh 'the True Chameleon of This Country'
Mohan also showered praise on Ranveer Singh for allowing other actors to shine despite carrying a film on his shoulders. "There is greatness in allowing someone else to take the spotlight while you quietly carry the film. Ranveer Singh is the true chameleon of this country. There is no actor like him," he said.
Recalling his first reaction after watching Band Baaja Baaraat, Mohan admitted he initially believed Ranveer would only be able to play similar roles because of how natural he seemed in the film. "I actually told my friends that this guy probably cannot do anything else because he was so convincing in Band Baaja Baaraat. Imagine, I call myself an actor and even I got it wrong," he joked. He then pointed to performances in Padmaavat and Gully Boy as examples of Ranveer's ability to completely transform himself for every role. "He transforms completely. He is a phenomenal actor. In Dhurandhar too, he was something else entirely. And beyond that, he is a wonderful human being — all heart," Mohan concluded.
