Nagarjuna breaks silence on rejecting Rehman Dakait's role in Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar: 'Akshaye Khanna was terrific... aditya dhar direction'
Times of India
by TOI ENTERTAINMENT DESKFebruary 14, 2026
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Nagarjuna has clarified that he was never offered the role of Rehman Dakait in Aditya Dhar’s *Dhurandhar*, despite recent rumors claiming otherwise. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Nagarjuna praised Akshaye Khanna’s performance as “terrific” and commended Aditya Dhar’s direction, calling it “incredible.” He also expressed excitement for the film’s upcoming sequel, while reiterating that he was not approached for the role. This clarification comes amid the film’s immense success, which has sparked discussions about the evolving standards of storytelling in Bollywood.
The actor emphasized the high expectations of international-caliber storytelling from audiences, a sentiment reflected in his current milestone project—a film marking his 100th venture. Nagarjuna shared that he and his team are taking their time to ensure the project meets these elevated standards, rather than rushing to release it. This approach aligns with the growing trend of filmmakers prioritizing quality over quantity in Bollywood.
Nagarjuna’s recent projects include *Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva* (2022), where he played Anish Shetty, alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. His next film is set to release during the Sankranthi festival on January 15. Meanwhile, Akshaye Khanna is gearing up for the sequel *Dhurandhar: The Revenge*, which will hit theaters on March 19. Both actors have ambitious lineups ahead, with Akshaye also starring in *Mahakali* and *Ikka*.
The conversation highlights the competitive yet collaborative nature of Bollywood, where every project is closely watched. Nagarjuna’s
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/14/2026