4 minutes of readingNew DelhiFebruary 1, 2026 12:00 pm IST
Akshaye Khanna has been on a wave of admiration since the box office success of Dhurandhar. Directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan and Sanjay Dutt, the film not only broke box office records but also reignited the fascination for Akshaye’s screen presence. His portrayal of Rehman Dakait emerged as one of the most talked about aspects of the film, with fans especially praising his dancing in the song. “FA9LA” by Flipperachi.
Akshaye Khanna dances to “Chaiyya Chaiyya”
Following the film’s OTT releaseAkshaye Khanna has once again grabbed attention online. Recently, an old clip from the early 2000s resurfaced, showing the actor lighting up the stage with his moves to Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic song “Chaiyya Chaiyya” at an awards show. Shared on Reddit, the video also features Twinkle Khanna.
In the clip, Akshaye looks effortlessly chic in an all-black ensemble – blazer, pants, t-shirt and cap, while Twinkle stuns in a shiny gold lehenga. The duo’s smooth chemistry and coordinated steps make it impossible to look away from the performance, and Akshaye’s relaxed energy on stage steals the show. The sequence also includes appearances from other stars of the era, with Aamir Khan taking the stage before joining Akshaye for a lively group dance to “Dholi Taro Dhol Baaje” from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
#AkshayeKhanna dancing #ChaiyyaChaiyya and #BajeDhol#ShahRukhKhan #SalmanKhan pic.twitter.com/oE9c6IxAii
— $@M (@SAMTHEBESTEST_) February 1, 2026
Netizens praise Akshaye Khanna’s dance
Fans quickly took to the comments section to praise the actor’s moves and charm. Someone wrote: “Why is she so hot? One of those people who is just hot without even trying.” Another added: “Akshaye is really handsome, I don’t think he even knows how handsome he is.” Several highlighted his dancing skills, with one fan calling him “such an underrated dancer,” while others labeled the performance “legendary.” Some even made amusing references to his role in Dhurandhar, joking, “Rehman Dakait in college days.”
FA9LA enters the Guinness Book of Records
Meanwhile, “FA9LA,” the song that appeared on Dhurandhar during Akshaye’s entry, recently entered the Guinness World Records for topping the Billboard charts for the most Arabic songs simultaneously. Reflecting on its success, Flipperachi credited Akshaye Khanna’s performance for the song that went viral: “I was shocked when I first saw it blow up on social media. Suddenly we got a deal there and they said they wanted the song FA9LA because it would fit this scene in the movie. They put it in a scene with an actor who has been off screen for maybe ten years. Boom, she danced and boom.”
Akshaye Khanna’s projects.
The year 2025 has been fundamental for Akshaye Khanna, marked by the success of Chhaava and Dhurandhar, consolidating his return to Bollywood. With Rehman Dakait’s death in Dhurandhar, it is unclear whether Akshaye will reprise his role in the upcoming Dhurandhar 2, which is scheduled to release on March 19, coinciding with Yash’s Toxic.
Meanwhile, Akshaye is gearing up to make his Telugu debut with PVCU film Mahakali, directed by Puja Kolluru. He will essay the role of Shukracharya, marking a bold new chapter in his career. The film’s release date has not yet been announced.