Even when everyone is talking about him, Akshaye Khanna chooses to stay quiet and live life his own way. Arshad Warsi shares what makes the actor so different: serious, private, and completely uninterested in fame or PR.
Image Source: Instagram
Arshad Warsi on Akshaye Khanna: Akshaye Khanna is everywhere right now on screens, in reviews, and in conversations about powerful performances. His role as Rehman Dakait in ‘Dhurandhar’ has earned him strong praise from critics and fans alike. Yet, unlike many stars riding a wave of success, Akshaye is nowhere to be seen promoting the film, attending events, or making public appearances.
This silence is not new. It is simply Akshaye being Akshaye.
Advertisement
Recently, actor Arshad Warsi, who worked with him years ago, gave rare insight into the man behind the performances. And what he said only confirmed what many in the industry already believe; Akshaye Khanna lives life strictly on his own terms.
Advertisement
Speaking to ‘Lallantop’, Arshad Warsi opened up about his experience working with Akshaye Khanna in the 2009 film ‘Short Kut’. While discussing the film’s failure, Arshad admitted he had high hopes from the project, but things didn’t go as planned.
According to him, a long portion of the film that he thought would be removed during editing was kept, which affected the final outcome.
But when the conversation shifted to Akshaye Khanna, Arshad’s tone changed from disappointment to quiet admiration.
“Akshaye is a very serious guy,” Arshad said. “Actor toh voh pehle se hi acha hai. There was never any doubt about that. But he lives in his own world.”
Arshad didn’t stop there. He went on to describe Akshaye as someone who genuinely does not care about opinions, approval, or image-building.
“He doesn’t care about you or anybody,” Arshad said bluntly. “For him, it’s his life. What you think about him is not his problem. He lives life his way.”
According to Arshad, this attitude has been part of Akshaye’s personality from the very beginning of his career. He has never chased publicity, never depended on PR machinery, and never tried to fit into Bollywood’s usual star system.
Even as ‘Dhurandhar’ wins him praise, Akshaye Khanna has also found himself in the middle of controversy. Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak recently claimed that Akshaye exited ‘Drishyam 3’ just 10 days before the shoot despite signing an agreement.
According to the producer, Akshaye requested to wear a wig for the film. The director reportedly refused the request saying it would affect continuity. Soon after, Akshaye allegedly walked out of the project leading to legal action and accusations of unprofessional behaviour.
The role has now gone to Jaideep Ahlawat. ‘Drishyam 3’ is scheduled to release on October 2, 2026.
As expected, Akshaye has not publicly responded to the claims.
Despite the controversy, Akshaye Khanna’s journey continues. He will next appear in ‘Mahakali’, directed by Prasanth Varma. The film is part of the growing Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe which began with the superhero hit ‘HanuMan’.
In ‘Mahakali’, Akshaye will play Asuraguru Shukracharya, a powerful and complex character from mythology. The film is inspired by Goddess Kali and will be the third superhero film in the franchise.
Advertisement
