Akshaye Khanna | |
|---|---|
 Khanna in 2016 | |
| Born | (1973-03-28)28 March 1973 (age 52) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Father | Vinod Khanna |
| Relatives | Rahul Khanna (brother) A. F. S. Talyarkhan (grandfather) |
| Awards | Full list |
Akshaye Khanna (born 28 March 1973) is anIndian actor who primarily works inHindi films. Khanna is known for his acting versatility.[1][2] He is a recipient ofnumerous accolades including twoFilmfare Awards.[3]
Born to actorVinod Khanna, he made his acting debut withHimalay Putra (1997).[4] His next release,J. P. Dutta's war dramaBorder (1997) emerged as a critical and commercial success, earning him theFilmfare Award for Best Male Debut.[5] Khanna replicated this success with the romanceTaal (1999), the comedy-dramaDil Chahta Hai (2001) which won him theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor,[6] the comediesHungama (2003) andHulchul (2004), the murder mystery36 China Town (2006) and the heist comedyTees Maar Khan (2010). He drew critical praise for featuring in the thrillersHumraaz (2002) andDeewangee (2002), the biopicGandhi, My Father (2007) and the action thrillersRace (2008) andAakrosh (2010).
Following a four-year hiatus, Khanna took on supporting roles in the action-comedyDishoom (2016) and the 2017 thrillersMom andIttefaq. He earned renewed acclaim for playing a defence lawyer in the legal dramaSection 375 (2019), a cop in the crime thrillerDrishyam 2 (2022),[7] and Mughal emperorAurangzeb in the historical actionChhaava (2025), which is his highest-grossing film.[8][9]
Khanna was born on 28 March 1973[3][10][11] to actor and politicianVinod Khanna and his wife Geetanjali Talyarkhan.[12] Khanna's father, aPunjabi Khatri, was an actor inHindi cinema who died in 2017,[13] while his mother was born into aParsi family of lawyers and businessmen; she died in 2018.[14] ActorRahul Khanna is his elder brother[15] and cricket commentatorBobby A. F. S. Talyarkhan was his maternal grandfather.
Khanna attendedBombay International School,Babulnath.[16] He then did his 11th & 12th fromLawrence School, Lovedale,Ooty.[17] In an interview, he said that he was better at sports than studies.[18][19]
Khanna made his acting debut withPankaj Parashar's romantic dramaHimalay Putra (1997), co-starring his fatherVinod,Hema Malini,Satish Shah,Johny Lever,Danny Denzongpa, andAmrish Puri.[20] His performance earned him aScreen Award for Best Male Debut, but the film underperformed at the box office despite mostly positive reviews.[21]
Later that year, Khanna starred inJ. P. Dutta's war dramaBorder alongsideSunny Deol,Suniel Shetty andJackie Shroff. Set during theIndo-Pakistani war of 1971, the film was about the events of theBattle of Longewala and saw Khanna play the real-life role of Dharamvir Singh Bhan.[22] The film generated positive reviews, becoming thesecond highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1997.[23]Border won him theFilmfare Award for Best Male Debut in addition to his first nomination forFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.[24]News18 noted, "Akshay Khanna excels in a role that was not only multilayered but also asked him to show the mood transitions with facial gestures only."[25]
Khanna's final release of 1997 was the romanceMohabbat, in which he starred alongsideMadhuri Dixit. The film received negative critical reception and was commercially unsuccessful.[26] The following year, Khanna starred oppositeJyothika inPriyadarshan's romantic dramaDoli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998), in which he portrayed a rich person.[27]Rediff.com stated, "Akshaye produces a good performance again. He's not a conventional looker but still appears charming."[28] In the same year, Khanna starred oppositeUrmila Matondkar inRaj N. Sippy's dramaKudrat.[29]
Khanna's first release of 1999 came oppositeAishwarya Rai inRishi Kapoor's directorial debut—the musical romanceAa Ab Laut Chalen.[30] It was a below average in India but performed well at the overseas.[31] His next film appearance was in Shrikant Sharma's romanceLaawaris oppositeManisha Koirala. The film received positive reviews, but fared poorly at the box office. Khanna next starred opposite Aishwarya Rai inSubhash Ghai's musical romantic dramaTaal, in which he played Manav Mehta. The film was highly anticipated by critics and proved to be thefourth highest-earning feature film of 1999, becoming his first commercial success sinceBorder.[32]Rediff.com wrote, "Akshaye is his usual self. Here he is endearing as a young and besotted lover who won't take no for an answer."[33] Khanna's final film that year was Lateef Binnu's star-crossed romanceDahek in which he featured oppositeSonali Bendre as aHindu boy who falls in love with aMuslim girl. The film proved to be a box office disappointment. Khanna had no film release in 2000.[34]
Khanna returned to films in 2001 withFarhan Akhtar's coming-of-age comedy-dramaDil Chahta Hai, alongsideAamir Khan,Saif Ali Khan andDimple Kapadia. Khanna featured as one of the three friends named Siddharth Sinha, a quiet and reticent boy.[35][36] It generated highly positive reviews, with critical acclaim, and emerged as a major commercial success.Dil Chahta Hai won seven Filmfare Awards, including a Best Supporting Actor trophy for Khanna.[37]Taran Adarsh noted, "Akshaye Khanna conveys a lot through his expressions and that's where he triumphs. An actor par excellence, he essays this complex character with flourish.[38] Sita Menon fromRediff.com wrote, "With the character's depth, Akshaye uses his voice and expression to optimum effect. He's a surprise. A pleasant one."[39]
Abbas–Mustan's romantic thrillerHumraaz (2002), co-starringAmeesha Patel, was Khanna's next film release. He played the main antagonist Karan Malhotra, a convincing con-artist.[40] It proved to be a major commercial success, and Khanna's performance drew critical praise. He won theIIFA Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role and earned nomination forFilmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role.Idlebrain stated, "Akshaye Khanna excels in his villainous role."[41] That year, he also starred as a lawyer inAnees Bazmee's thrillerDeewangee alongside Urmila Matondkar, a financial failure for which he was nominated for theScreen Award for Best Actor.[42]
In 2003, Khanna starred as an electronic salesman in Priyadarshan's romantic comedyHungama, co-starringRimi Sen. The feature became a box office hit with earnings of₹202 million (US$2.4 million) despite a mixed critical reception.[43] He next reunited with J. P. Dutta to filmLOC: Kargil, a war drama based on the events of theKargil War fought between India andPakistan. Khanna played the real-life character ofBalwan Singh, an Indian army officer who is a part of the war alongsidePreeti Jhangiani.[44][45]
Khanna's first release of 2004 wasMilan Luthria's action thrillerDeewaar, in which he played Gaurav Kaul, the son of an Indian army officer who sets out to find his missing father. Co-starringAmitabh Bachchan andAmrita Rao, it received critical acclaim but failed to fare well at the box office.[46] In the same year, Khanna reteamed withPriyadarshan in the romantic comedyHulchul, in which he was paired oppositeKareena Kapoor. The film proved to be a box-office hit.[47]India Today wrote, "Khanna, one of the most underrated actors in Bollywood, keep the film moving with bang-on performances."[48]
After an absence in 2005, Khanna appeared in three films in 2006 — the first of which wasSatish Kaushik's comedy-dramaShaadi Se Pehle, co-starringAyesha Takia andMallika Sherawat.[49] Khanna's next role was in36 China Town, a murder-mystery comedy co-starring Kareena Kapoor andShahid Kapoor. The film featured him as a police officer, and proved to be a financial success with earnings of over₹369 million (US$4.4 million) worldwide.[50] Khanna's final film release that year wasDharmesh Darshan's romantic comedyAap Ki Khatir alongsidePriyanka Chopra. It proved to be one of the year's biggest flops.[51]
In 2007, Khanna acted inNikkhil Advani's ensemble dramaSalaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love, a romantic comedy, where he was featured opposite Ayesha Takia.[52] The film received mixed reviews from critics and emerged as a major commercial disappointment.[53]Rajeev Masand noted, "Akshaye Khanna as the groom-to-be who gets cold feet at the eleventh hour delivers a commendable performance."[54] His next was Abbas–Mustan's love-sagaNaqaab, in which he starred alongsideUrvashi Sharma. The feature received positive reviews from audiences but turned out to be an average grosser. Khanna then took a leading role inFeroz Abbas Khan'sGandhi, My Father. The feature explores the relationship betweenMahatma Gandhi and his eldest sonHarilal Gandhi.[55] The film underperformed at the box office, but was positively received by critics.Hindustan Times noted, "Khanna is absolutely inspired and gives the complex part all his conviction and intelligence. His breakdown scenes are especially heart-wrenching."[56] In his final release of that year, Khanna teamed withAnil Mehta for the dance filmAaja Nachle, co-starringMadhuri Dixit, which underperformed at the box office.[57]
Khanna's performance in the Abbas–Mustan-directed the 2008 action thrillerRace, marked a turning point in his career. He starred alongsideKatrina Kaif andBipasha Basu. He played the main antagonist Rajiv Singh, analcoholic person.[58] The film became one of the highest-grossing films of that year with over₹1 billion (US$12 million), becoming Khanna's highest-grossing release to that point, and earned him Best Performance in a Negative Role awards at IIFA andScreen.Bollywood Hungama noted, "Akshaye is so perfect. To carry off a difficult character like this is a Herculean task and the supremely talented actor handles it with aplomb."Rajeev Masand wrote, "Akshaye Khanna delivers an amateurish performance by hamming through his scenes."[59][60] He then reunited with Priyadarshan in the comedyMere Baap Pehle Aap, co-starringParesh Rawal andGenelia D'Souza.[61]
Khanna's only release in 2009 wasNeeraj Vora's romantic comedyShortkut, in which he starred alongsideAmrita Rao, playing the character of Shekhar, an assistant director. The following year, he featured in three commercial or critical failures — the first of which was Priyadarshan's action thrillerAakrosh. The film featured Khanna as aCBI officer.[62] He next appeared in Anees Bazmee's comedyNo Problem, co-starringKangana Ranaut.[63] His final film of that year wasTees Maar Khan, aslapstick comedy co-starringAkshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. Khanna's role was that of a popular but greedy actor. The film was a semi-hit at the box office.[64]Rediff.com stated, "Akshaye Khanna handles this hysterical character with such control and conviction; you can't help but admire his gusto despite the foolhardiness of it all."[65]
In 2012, Khanna starred inGali Gali Chor Hai, an ensemble romantic comedy directed by Rumi Jaffrey, co-starringShriya Saran andMugdha Godse. It received mixed to negative reviews from critics and proved to be a major financial failure. Khanna then took a long sabbatical of four years from film acting.[66][67]
Khanna made his return to films in 2016 with the action cop comedyDishoom, playing the role of the main antagonist Wagah, a bookie who targets a top batsman. The feature received mixed reviews from critics, but emerged successful, earning over₹1.20 billion (US$14 million) worldwide.[68]Anna M. M. Vetticad wrote, "Akshaye Khanna manages to lend notable touches to his part, but remains a victim of an under-written role."[69]
Ravi Udayawar's crime thrillerMom was Khanna's first release of 2017, co-starring withSridevi, he received critical appreciation for his performance as Matthew, aCBI officer.[70] With a global revenue of over₹1.75 billion (US$21 million), it emerged as a financial success.[71] Kunal Guha fromMumbai Mirror wrote, "Akshaye Khanna as the intuitive crime branch inspector sticks to his lopsided expressions and is unobjectionable."[72][73] Later that year, he starred as an investigative cop in Abhay Chopra's murder-mysteryIttefaq. Co-starringSonakshi Sinha andSidharth Malhotra, it proved to be an average grosser.[74] Samrudhi Ghosh ofIndia Today noted, "Akshaye Khanna is the star of the film. Whether it's his no-nonsense demeanour or smart-aleck one-liners, Akshaye is a delight to watch on screen."[75]
Khanna had two films in 2019. He playedSanjay Baru, Indian policy analyst inThe Accidental Prime Minister. It was a moderate success.[76] Ronak Kotecha ofThe Times of India stated, "Khanna ensures there's never a dull moment. Often talking directly into the camera, Khanna is quick to strike a chord with the audience, also playing the narrator."[77] He next starred as the defence lawyer inSection 375 alongsideRicha Chadda. His performance gained him a nomination forFilmfare Critics Award for Best Actor.[78][79] The film was declared average at the box office. Rajeev Masand noted, "Akshaye Khanna brings a wily charm to his role as the defence lawyer. The film gives him some of the best lines and the grandstanding moments, and he makes a meal of it." Monika Rawal Kukreja states, "Khanna impresses with his intense and gritty performance in every frame, though he could have worked a bit more on his flat facial expressions."[80][81]
His only release in 2020, wasSab Kushal Mangal.[82] Nandini Ramnath fromScroll.in wrote, "Khanna's Babu enlivens the movie whenever he appears, which isn't as often as it needed to be, and his absence is sorely felt."[83] In 2021, Khanna, played NSG officer inState of Siege: Temple Attack.[84]Saibal Chatterjee noted, "Akshaye Khanna is doubtless a talented actor. One sees flashes of his class all through the film. But he is trapped in a script that has little room for vivid character development."[85] The film had a theatrical release in 2025, under the title titleAkshardham: Operation Vajra Shakti.[86]
Khanna's much delayed filmLove You Hamesha, became his first film of 2022, co-starring Sonali Bendre.[87][88] He then played a police officer inDrishyam 2. The film emerged as a critical and commercial success with Khanna receiving praise for his performance in the film.[89] A critic fromBollywood Hungama noted, "Akshaye Khanna is a great addition to the franchise. He is a scene-stealer thanks to his characterization and performance."[90] While, Sonil Dedhia ofNews18 wrote, "Akshaye Khanna is at his usual best. He shines in every scene and leaves behind a big impression. Khanna as usual is the scene stealer."[91]
Following another two year hiatus, Khanna portrayed Mughal emperorAurangzeb in his first release of 2025,Chhaava, based on the life ofChhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, starringVicky Kaushal.[92][93] To enhance the intensity of their on-screen rivalry, Khanna and Kaushal avoided interacting with each other during filming.[94]Hindustan Times's Rishab Suri termed his performance "menacing" and was appreciative of his expressive eyes.[95] A box office success, it emerged as one of thehighest-grossing Indian film of all time. The film surpassedDrishyam 2 to become his highest grossing film.[96][97]
Khanna is set to appear inLegacy, his first streaming series,[98] and filmDhurandhar, alongsideRanveer Singh.[99]
Komal Panchal ofThe Indian Express termed him the "most nuanced, subtle actor" and noted, "Akshaye is someone who doesn't force himself onto his characters, but becomes one with every character he portrays on-screen."[100] Rohini Iyer ofRediff.com stated, "Akshaye has the knack of coming up with one powerhouse performance after another."[101]Khaleej Times's Khalid Mohamed noted, "From being a reluctant actor to being more forthcoming - the formidably talented Akshaye Khanna has turned the wheel."[42]Roshmila Bhattacharya ofMumbai Mirror praised the actor for being "very punctual".[102] V S Srinivasan ofRediff.com termed Khanna as the "star of the future", after his filmBorder's release.[103]Rajeev Masand termed him to be "one of Bollywood's most reclusive actors".[104]
Critics noted that the filmDil Chahta Hai marked a major turning point for Khanna. Sneha Bengani ofFirstpost termed his role to be "written and performed with much care and control". She added that the role would have been different "without Akshaye Khanna's able performance".[105] Aakriti Anand ofFilmfare feels that his "performance in the film is the one that put him on the map."[106] Following his portrayal of a variety of characters inHumraaz,Deewangee (both 2002),Hungama (2003),Gandhi, My Father (2007),Race (2008) andDrishyam 2 (2022), Khanna was noted for his versatility.[10][11] In an interview with Nirtika Pandita ofThe Asian Age, Khanna termed himself to be "a director's actor". He further added that he likes to keep "his life private and stays away from social life".[107]The New Indian Express named Khanna's performance inDrishyam 2 among the best of the year 2022.[108]
Members of theIndian film industry have often praised Khanna.Shah Rukh Khan said, "I've always been extremely fond of Akshaye and his acting abilities. I'm a big fan of his work. There's a strange mystique about him that reflects in his acting."[109]Kareena Kapoor admitted to have a "huge crush" on the actor.[110] HisSection 375 co-starRicha Chadda termed him an "underrated actor" and said, "I have admired Akshaye Khanna's work in offbeat films likeGandhi, My Father and the cult filmDil Chahta Hai. I am really delighted that I can team up with him. He is brilliant, so underrated and intelligent."[111] Khanna has participated in several concert tours. His first concert tour, "Magnificent Five", was in 1999 in which he performed alongside actors Aamir Khan, Aishwarya Rai,Rani Mukerji andTwinkle Khanna.[112][113] In 2006, he provided voice-over in the unplugged version of the title song of his filmAap Ki Khatir.[114]
Khanna is a recipient of twoFilmfare Awards —Best Male Debut forBorder andBest Supporting Actor forDil Chahta Hai.[115]
As one from a prominent Parsee family of lawyers and businessmen […]
I was so sure Doli Saja Ke Rakhna would do well, but when it didn't I lapsed into depression.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
.svg)
