Akshaye Khanna’s cinematic journey has always been defined by restraint, depth and an unwavering commitment to craft. But in 2025, the seasoned actor rewrote his own legacy — not with loud heroics, but through two powerhouse antagonist roles that propelled him into an exclusive box office club dominated by the biggest names in Indian cinema.
With a career spanning over three decades, Akshaye Khanna has often been hailed as one of Hindi cinema’s most underrated performers. This year, however, he stepped firmly into the spotlight by becoming only the second Indian actor after Shah Rukh Khan to cross Rs 2000 crore at the global box office within a single calendar year — a staggering commercial feat that few can claim.
Akshaye Khanna’s Year dominated the big screen
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to refer to 2025 as the “Year of Akshaye Khanna.” The actor starred in two consecutive blockbusters, both of which were among the highest-grossing Hindi movies of the year and featured him in strong antagonist roles. His ability to elevate conventional movies with subtle threat, nuanced emotions, and scene-stealing presence was acclaimed by both critics and viewers.
Chhaava: Aurangzeb’s Regal Turn
In Laxman Utekar’s historical epic Chhaava, which starred Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna initially made a significant impact. Akshaye played the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the January 2025 release, a role that required gravity, nuance, and restrained intensity.
The film turned into a global phenomenon, collecting Rs 809 crore worldwide, and held the position of the highest-grossing Indian film of the year for several months. Akshaye’s portrayal was widely applauded for bringing nuance to a historically charged character without slipping into caricature.
Dhurandhar: A Menacing Gangster Who Stole the Show
If Chhaava established his dominance, Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller Dhurandhar cemented it. Released in December, the film featured an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan and Arjun Rampal — yet it was Akshaye Khanna’s chilling turn as gangster Rehman Dakait that emerged as one of the film’s biggest highlights.
Driven by strong word of mouth, Dhurandhar became the most successful Hindi film domestically, amassing Rs 1167 crore worldwide so far. With both films combined, Akshaye Khanna comfortably crossed the Rs 2000 crore mark within 2025, achieving a rare balance of critical acclaim and box office supremacy.
An Exclusive Box Office Club
So far, Shah Rukh Khan remains the only other Indian actor to have achieved this milestone, having crossed Rs 2000 crore in 2023 with Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki, which collectively earned Rs 2685 crore worldwide.
While Aamir Khan’s Dangal also surpassed Rs 2000 crore globally, it did so across two different years — earning Rs 716 crore in 2016 and nearly Rs 1300 crore from its China release in 2017.
A Late-Career High Few Can Match
At a stage when many actors slow down, Akshaye Khanna has instead redefined longevity in Bollywood. His 2025 success proves that powerful writing, fearless role choices and subtle performances can still dominate an industry driven by spectacle.
With this historic box office feat, Akshaye Khanna has not only reinforced his relevance but has also set a new benchmark for character actors in mainstream Hindi cinema.