Akshaye Khanna performs vastu shanti puja at Alibaug home amid Dhurandhar’s viral success. Watch

Such phenomenal second-week numbers have not been seen even in Hindi cinema’s biggest blockbusters, including Dangal and Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback films Jawan and Pathaan. All three films saw their daily collections dip below Rs 15 crore during the same phase (second week).

Akshaye Khanna performs vastu shanti puja

While Ranveer Singh—marking his return to form after Padmaavat and Gully Boy—celebrated the success with a humble note on Instagram, Akshaye Khanna, who has long stayed away from the spotlight, was recently seen performing a vastu shanti puja at his residence in Alibaug.

A video shared by the priest who conducted the puja has since surfaced online. In the clip, Akshaye Khanna, dressed in a casual white shirt and blue denim, is seen participating in the rituals alongside three priests.

ALSO READ | Actor’s superstar dad left him when he was 5; Aamir Khan took Taare Zameen Par from him, now he is Bollywood’s most admired 

Priest on performing puja at Akshaye’s home

Priest Shivam Mhatre shared glimpses of the ceremony on Instagram, accompanied by a heartfelt caption.

“I had the good fortune of performing a traditional and devotional puja at actor Akshaye Khanna’s residence. His calm nature, simplicity, and positive energy made the experience truly special,” he wrote.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Shivam Guruji (@shivam_mhatre_guruji)

Praising the actor’s craft, the priest added, “When it comes to class in acting, Akshaye Khanna stands apart. Through his powerful role in the historical film Chhaava, he once again captured the audience’s attention. This was followed by his sharp and intense character in Dhurandhar, his restrained yet compelling performance in Drishyam 2, and his serious, realistic role in Section 375—each film reflecting a new peak in his acting journey.”

He further wrote, “With carefully chosen roles, meaningful cinema, and mature performances, Akshaye Khanna continues to hold a unique and respected place in the hearts of audiences.”

The video quickly went viral. The clip was also shared on Reddit, sparking several fan reactions.

One user commented, “My man is chilling after delivering two ₹500+ crore blockbusters in a single year.” Another wrote, “Bro acted in two of the biggest Hindi films of the time and went to Alibaug to chill.”

Others praised his script choices. “His script selection should be admired. Last year I watched Section 375 and wasn’t expecting that twist. Loved the grey shade in his character,” read one comment. Another fan wrote, “I aspire to be like this man—not performative, not attention-hungry. Just content, with quiet confidence that shows in his aura. Does his job with perfection and disappears. No overactive PR. Love him!”

ALSO READ | Dhurandhar: Real-life Rehman Dakait killed mother at 15, was Lyari’s ‘king’ at 21, this is what happened after his encounter

In 30 years, Akshaye Khanna appeared in just 48 films

Akshaye Khanna made his debut with the 1997 film Himalay Putra, produced by his father Vinod Khanna. While the film did not perform well at the box office, it brought him recognition. Since then, the actor has remained highly selective, sometimes staying away from films for years. Including Dhurandhar, Akshaye has appeared in just 48 films over nearly three decades.

Speaking about his selective career choices, he once told Mid-Day, “For me, not working is the hardest part of being an actor. It is depression time. I’m the opposite of someone who looks forward to six months off. But destiny played its cards—I ended up taking forced breaks, not by choice. It’s very hard when you aren’t getting material you connect with.”

While it remains unclear whether Akshaye Khanna’s character Rehman Dakait will return in Dhurandhar Part 2—scheduled for release on March 19—given that the character was killed in the first film, the actor is next set to appear in the Telugu film Mahakali, followed by Drishyam 3.