Aditya Dhar’s latest directorial venture, Dhurandhar, has taken the film industry by storm, becoming the primary topic of conversation among cinephiles since its theatrical release. While the high-octane spy thriller features an ensemble cast, it is Akshaye Khanna’s menacing portrayal of the antagonist, Rehman Dakait, that has turned the actor into an overnight internet sensation. However, amid the film’s success, a rumour surfaced suggesting that the role of the villain was initially offered to South superstar Nagarjuna, who allegedly turned it down.
Now, Nagarjuna has officially set the record straight regarding these speculations. In a recent interaction with Bollywood Hungama, he dismissed the claims, clarifying that he was never approached for the part that has now become a career highlight for Akshaye Khanna.
“Absolutely not. I was not offered the role, though I wish I was,” Nagarjuna said, putting an end to the rumours. Expressing his admiration for the project, he added, “Dhurandhar is a superb film… Really incredible direction by Aditya Dhar. I loved his earlier film Uri also! Superb acting by everybody in the film, and Akshaye Khanna was terrific… Looking forward to the sequel! Wishing them another blockbuster.”
Nagarjuna’s praise comes at a time when he is focused on his own landmark project and his 100th film. Discussing the progress of this milestone movie, Nagarjuna explained that quality remains the priority over speed. He shared, “We are not rushing anything. There is no hurry to complete the film. We want it to be very special. After Dhurandhar, it is clear that the audiences demand international standards of storytelling.”
Nagarjuna was last seen by Bollywood audiences in the 2022 movie Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva, where he played the character Anish Shetty. Meanwhile, the Dhurandhar universe is set to expand. Akshaye Khanna is expected to reprise his role through flashback scenes in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which is scheduled for a March 19 release. After the sequel, Akshaye has other major projects lined up, including Mahakali and Ikka.
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