Farah Khan: From “Traumatized” by Akshaye Khanna to Dhurandhar Praise

New Delhi, March 14, 2026: In a candid trip down memory lane, filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan has opened up about her long-standing professional relationship with Akshaye Khanna. While the actor is currently enjoying a massive career resurgence following his powerhouse performance in Aditya Dhar’s 2025 blockbuster Dhurandhar, Farah revealed that working with him in the 1990s was a far more “traumatising” experience than fans might imagine.

Speaking on a recent podcast, Farah balanced her immense respect for Akshaye’s craft with a humorous yet blunt look at his “irritable phase,” his evolution since Dil Chahta Hai, and the “Oscar-worthy” legacy of his role in Tees Maar Khan.

The “Traumatising” ’90s: Insecurity and Irritability

Long before Akshaye Khanna became the “chill” and respected veteran he is today, Farah Khan recalls a young actor who was difficult to handle on set. Farah admitted that during their early collaborations in the 1990s, she was so overwhelmed by his temperament that she actively avoided projects featuring him.

“In the ’90s, I did a couple of movies with Akshaye, and after that, I was traumatised. He was introverted, but not a nice person on set. Whenever I heard he was in a film, I used to say, ‘I don’t have the dates,'” Farah shared.

According to the filmmaker, the root of Akshaye’s angst was deeply personal: premature hair loss. At just 19, Akshaye began losing his hair, an insecurity that manifested as volatility on set. Farah recalled him frequently throwing things and questioning scripts with a sharp, irritable edge.

She pointed out a specific quirk from that era: “If there was water or rain in a scene, he would always wear a cap—see every rain song of his, like in Taal. He hadn’t reconciled with it yet.”

The Dil Chahta Hai Turning Point

The tide turned in 2001 with Farhan Akhtar’s cult classic Dil Chahta Hai. Farah, who choreographed the film, noted a visible shift in the actor’s personality.

• Acceptance: Farah believes Akshaye finally “reconciled with his hair” during this period, which fundamentally changed his energy.
• A “Chill” Persona: He moved from being defensive to being relaxed and collaborative.
• The Dancer: Farah also took the opportunity to praise his often-underrated dancing skills, noting that in the iconic track ‘Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe’, Akshaye was “dancing better than Aamir Khan and Saif Ali Khan.”

Tees Maar Khan and the “Asli Oscar”

The conversation inevitably led to Tees Maar Khan (2010), where Akshaye played the eccentric, Oscar-obsessed superstar Aatish Kapoor. Though the film underperformed at the box office, Akshaye’s “hamming” performance has since become a viral sensation among Gen Z.

Farah revealed that the role was originally rejected by several actors, including Sharman Joshi. “Akshaye was the last person you’d think of for such a zany, cracked comedy,” she said.

Following the success of Dhurandhar, memes linking Aatish Kapoor’s Oscar dreams to Akshaye’s real-life acclaim have flooded social media. Farah joked that after his latest role, Tees Maar Khan is “ruling hearts” again, with fans claiming the “real Oscar” belongs to Aatish Kapoor.

Dhurandhar: The Return of a Powerhouse

Akshaye’s recent portrayal of the menacing Pakistani gangster Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar has cemented his status as a “breakout star” all over again. The film, which emerged as a massive hit in 2025, has triggered a new wave of “Akshaye mania.”

Farah, who is now a close friend and often visits him at his Alibaug home, reached out to him immediately after seeing the film. She noted that what she admires most about him now is his lack of “fluff.”