Ameesha Patel publicly praises Akshaye Khanna for his Dhurandhar performance, challenging critics who’ve recently rekindled their admiration for him. In a spirited post, she commends him for delivering performances that outshine any need for PR, and she jokes that if you want to trend online, you should be talking about Akshaye Khanna; and if you want a film to succeed, let it be driven by Akshaye Khanna.
In a longer note, Ameesha adds that Brand AKSHAY has apparently opened the eyes of many who had overlooked him for years, with many people suddenly rediscovering their long-lost appreciation for his work. She praises Akshu for “slapping everyone with his performances” rather than with publicity, and she finishes with a thumbs-up for his impact.
Around the same time, Ameesha shared a throwback Instagram photo with Akshaye, expressing that he has blown the nation away with his performances this year and praising him as humble and unpretentious.
Critics and audiences alike have lauded Akshaye Khanna’s portrayal of the real-life gangster Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar. Notably, Adivi Sesh called Akshaye’s performance his favorite in the film, highlighting the ensemble’s strong work, memorable music, striking cinematography, and overall craftsmanship that made the experience noteworthy. Sesh also mentioned he plans to watch the movie again soon.
Dhurandhar juxtaposes covert intelligence work against major geopolitical and terrorist events, including references to the Kandahar hijacking, the 2001 Parliament Attack, and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The movie, released on December 5, has grossed over ₹330 crore in India. The cast features Ranveer Singh as undercover agent Hamza Ali Mazari, R Madhavan as senior spymaster Ajay Sanyal, Sanjay Dutt as SP Chaudhary Aslam, and Arjun Rampal as ISI Major Iqbal, a figure inspired by the extremist Ilyas Kashmiri. Much of the action unfolds in Lyari, Karachi, a locality known for its turbulent gang conflicts.
This piece invites readers to weigh Ameesha’s enthusiastic endorsement against the broader reception of the film and its controversial themes, inviting discussion on the balance between star power, publicity, and authentic, performance-driven success.
Would you agree that a powerful performance can outshine heavy marketing, or do you think publicity still plays a decisive role in a film’s impact?
