Khushboo Sundar says she ‘loved to hate Akshaye Khanna’ in Dhurandhar: ‘His father is looking down from heaven’

Khushboo Sundar reviews Dhurandhar. (Photo: Instagram/IMDb)

Dhurandhar has crossed the Rs 1,230 crore mark at the global box office and continues to stand strong even after 35 days in theatres. Even the release of Tu Meri Main Tera and Ikkis failed to dent its momentum, with praise for the film continuing to pour in from all quarters. The latest to join the list of admirers is actor-turned-politician Khushboo Sundar.

Khushboo took to her X (formerly Twitter) handle to heap praise on the film’s cast and crew. While she applauded everyone—from director Aditya Dhar to actors Ranveer Singh and Rakesh Bedi—it was Akshaye Khanna who clearly left the deepest impression on her.

Sharing her reaction, Khushboo Sundar wrote, “Finally watched Dhurandhar. To say I was blown away would definitely be an understatement. Bravo to Aditya Dhar and the entire cast and crew. Every frame, every word, every moment turns into an inspiring movement. Clapped the loudest when you hear, ‘Yeh naya Hindustan hai.’”

Reviewing the film further, she added, “Your eyes moisten and your chest swells with pride when the film ends. Take a bow, Aditya Dhar. Jazbaaton ko jagah diya. Faqr se dil bhar diya.”

While praising the performances, Khushboo wrote, “Ranveer Singh is outstanding, Madhavan is subtle, powerful and brilliant. Rakesh Bedi ji is superb. But it’s this man named Akshaye Khanna who takes the cake and walks away in style.”

She added a heartfelt note for Akshaye, saying, “I am sure his father is looking down from heaven and smiling at him. No words can describe him. He lived the role. Loved to hate him.”

Made on an estimated budget of Rs 250 crore, Dhurandhar opened to a respectable Rs 28 crore, but its true box-office strength became evident in its second weekend as word-of-mouth kicked in. Akshaye Khanna’s viral dance sequence to the song “FA9LA” became an overnight sensation, helping the film earn nearly Rs 150 crore in its second weekend alone. From that point on, there was no looking back.

Dhurandhar has now secured the second position among the highest-grossing Hindi films of all time, trailing only Aamir Khan’s Dangal, which earned a lifetime collection of Rs 2,070.3 crore, including Rs 1,305 crore from China alone.

Beyond commercial success, Dhurandhar has also received widespread critical acclaim. Several film personalities, including Sudhir Mishra and Hrithik Roshan, praised the film’s cinematic brilliance—even while expressing disagreements with its political undertones.