New Delhi Chronicle Entertainment Bureau
Mumbai | January 4
2025 has firmly cemented itself as a career-defining year for Akshaye Khanna, as the acclaimed actor has scripted a rare chapter in Indian cinema’s box office history. With two back-to-back blockbusters, Khanna has become only the second Indian actor after Shah Rukh Khan to cross the ₹2,000 crore mark at the global box office in a single calendar year.
Akshaye Khanna first left audiences spellbound with his commanding portrayal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the historical epic Chhaava, starring opposite Vicky Kaushal. The film emerged as a global juggernaut, amassing over ₹800 crore worldwide, and ranking among the biggest Indian hits of the year.
He followed this triumph with a starkly different yet equally impactful performance as feared gangster Rehman Dakait in Aditya Dhar’s high-octane action drama Dhurandhar. Co-starring Ranveer Singh, the film has already stormed past ₹1,100 crore globally and continues its strong theatrical run, pushing Khanna’s 2025 total beyond the historic ₹2,000 crore milestone.
With Dhurandhar now firmly positioned among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time, Akshaye Khanna has achieved a feat that even major superstars like Prabhas and Allu Arjun have narrowly missed, despite their releases crossing the ₹1,700 crore mark in recent years.
Industry attention is now turning towards Ranbir Kapoor, who could still join this elite club with upcoming mega projects such as Ramayana and Love & War. However, for now, 2025 unmistakably belongs to Akshaye Khanna.
A year defined by bold choices, transformative performances, and box office dominance, Akshaye Khanna’s historic run stands as a powerful reminder that craft-driven cinema backed by smart selections can rival superstar-led spectacles.
