Akshaye Khanna outshines Ranveer Singh in Dhurandhar: Is this his Bobby Deol–style comeback?

If this arc sounds familiar, it’s because Bobby Deol experienced a strikingly similar revival.

Is Akshaye Khanna becoming the new Bobby Deol?

Akshaye Khanna’s performance in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar speaks for itself. Even though Ranveer Singh is the film’s “lead hero,” it is Akshaye’s portrayal of Rehman Dakait that has truly captured everyone’s attention. His performance is so commanding that it eclipses the memory of his early lover-boy image from films like Dil Chahta Hai, Hungama, and Aa Ab Laut Chalen. While those films kept him in circulation, they never became the breakthrough projects one might have expected for someone of his calibre.

A similar trajectory can be seen in Bobby Deol’s career. Think back to Animal: despite Ranbir Kapoor appearing on every poster, the actor who stole hearts after the film’s release was Bobby Deol. He was already being praised for his role in the web series Aashram, but his portrayal of Abrar pushed him into an entirely new league. Looking at his early films, Barsaat, Badal, or Aashiq, the level of popularity he enjoys today was unimaginable then. Yet suddenly, every conversation includes Bobby, and he has now captured the attention of an entirely new generation.

Resurrection of a star

Akshaye Khanna in Dhurandhar

Bobby Deol’s reinvention with Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal achieved what two decades of earlier work could not. And now, quite unexpectedly, Akshaye Khanna is serving a similar surprise.

In Dhurandhar, Akshaye proves his mettle through silence, stillness, and sheer psychological weight. He becomes the film’s gravitational force the moment he appears on screen. He made me think, “Ranveer was good, but Akshaye was something else.”

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It’s rare to see a powerhouse like Ranveer subdued, not because he falters, but because Akshaye is playing an entirely different game and effortlessly steals the show.

And this isn’t a one-off. Earlier this year, he delivered a spectacular turn as Aurangzeb in Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava, evoking the same feeling of witnessing an artiste at the peak of his craft.

Opportunities to flow now?

Social media is now buzzing with conversations, not about the plot, but about how Akshaye Khanna has been a long-overlooked gem. Bobby Deol’s life was transformed overnight after the release of Animal. The actor himself admitted to a 360-degree shift in opportunities coming his way, from The Ba***ds of Bollywood to Kanguva, Alpha, and several others.

Bobby Deol in Animal

And if things continue on their current trajectory, Akshaye Khanna seems poised for a similar fate. After his jaw-dropping performances in Dhurandhar and Chhaava, it feels only fitting that he now gravitates toward roles with greater character depth. His reinvention may well be the first big step toward a powerful new chapter in his career.

Why is the audience responding now?

It’s natural to wonder why the evolution of these two stars is gaining attention now. Why didn’t audiences respond to their striking performances 25 years ago? In my view, the Indian audience is undergoing a transformation in its cinematic literacy. The kinds of films and characters that were once celebrated are no longer what viewers seek today.

The macho image of a “hero” has also shifted dramatically. Star power dynamics have changed, too. Theatre footfall is no longer driven solely by the cast; audiences today pay closer attention to individual performances, whether by a lead actor or a member of the supporting cast. Character-driven cinema are being appreciated more than ever before.

If Dhurandhar is any indication, Akshaye Khanna’s long-awaited second innings has finally begun. And if the industry is wise, it will nurture this momentum into something remarkable. This is his moment, not borrowed, not inherited, but earned.