MUMBAI, India — Actress-turned-politician Smriti Irani has praised Akshaye Khanna’s performance in Dhurandhar, saying the actor has “surpassed all expectations” and joking that he deserves an Oscar for his work in the film.
Irani took to social media to share a humorous clip from the 2010 film Tees Maar Khan, starring Akshay Kumar and Akshaye Khanna. The clip shows Akshay Kumar’s character exuberantly demanding an Oscar for Khanna’s character, Atish Kapoor. Sharing the video, Irani wrote, “When Akshaye Khanna has surpassed all expectations & you too want to yell… de do Oscar #dhurandhar.”
The former actress has been vocal in her appreciation of Dhurandhar and its team. Earlier, she shared a collage featuring the film’s lead cast, including Sanjay Dutt, Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, director Aditya Dhar and actor Arjun Rampal, along with a detailed note reflecting on the film’s emotional and thematic depth.
“If you have looked into the eyes of the wife of a fallen soldier & walked her to the cremation ground, if you have visited the Jagti camp in Jammu, if you have seen the deserted temple premises of Sharika Devi in Srinagar, if you have met those who were on duty during the Parliament attack or have family that survived the 26/11 Mumbai attack, then nothing in Dhurandhar should lead you to outrage; after all, it’s just a film,” she wrote.
Irani also lauded director Aditya Dhar for his storytelling and research-driven approach. “As a storyteller, @adityadharfilms is a craftsperson par excellence; as a research fiend, even more so,” she said, adding that Akshaye Khanna’s performance stood out for its emotional restraint. “It’s the quiver in the face as he pulls the cover off a dead son that makes Akshaye Khanna’s performance a lesson in craft,” she wrote, while also praising Ranveer Singh’s screen presence and Arjun Rampal’s menacing turn.
She further commended the film’s music and casting, crediting casting director Mukesh Chhabra for assembling a powerful ensemble. “When a director’s passion meets the keen eye of a casting director like Mukesh @castingchhabra, you can rest assured the screen will explode,” she said.
Reflecting on the film’s larger impact, Irani described Dhurandhar as more than just a cinematic experience. “Dhurandhar isn’t just a film—it’s the echo of lives lived and lost; and if cinema can make you feel that weight, maybe you owe it more than outrage,” she wrote. She also noted that while it felt unusual to see R Madhavan portray a cinematic version of Ajit Doval, she believed there could have been no better choice for the role.
Irani concluded her message with a tribute to members of the armed forces and security personnel. “To the men and women known and unknown who have died defending us and are still in pursuit of justice for the everyday Indian—Dhanyawad; our nation holds you in high esteem and is forever in your debt,” she wrote.
Meanwhile, Akshaye Khanna’s performance in Dhurandhar has been widely praised on social media, with several scenes from the film going viral. Many viewers have said the actor deserved such recognition much earlier in his career.
Dhurandhar, which released on December 5, has been receiving strong responses from both audiences and critics since its release. (Source: IANS)
