Mukesh Chhabra reveals actors rejected Akshaye Khanna’s role in Dhurandhar, 'now they regret', recalls R Madhavan, Sara Arjun castings

Fresh off the thunderous success of 'Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge,' casting director Mukesh Chhabra is soaking in what he calls a defining phase in his journey. Having meticulously auditioned over 300 actors across two years to ensure every character resonated with raw authenticity, he feels this project finally highlights the casting department's vital role in Indian cinema, much like the recent historic recognition at the Oscars, fueling his passion for future groundbreaking storytelling ventures. By championing the art of the ensemble, Chhabra has successfully transformed the industry's perception of casting from a logistical task into a creative cornerstone.“It took me 20 years to reach here, after doing over 300 films,” Chhabra told Hollywood Reporter India, reflecting on the film’s impact on his career. Chhabra, who began his journey with Rang De Basanti (2006), recalled how casting in Bollywood has undergone a massive shift over the years.“They used to cast the same three people in every film—same villain, same right hand, same mother, same sister, same driver. Now the audience gets to see so many new actors and faces,” he said.'Dhurandhar 2 box office collection day 8: Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi, Arjun Rampal starrer grosses Rs 805 crore in India; worldwide total nears Rs 1,100 croreHe pointed out that today, “every single director in Bollywood, even the big directors making commercial films, has a casting director,” marking a significant evolution in storytelling.‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ box office collection day 9: Ranveer Singh, Rakesh Bedi, Sanjay Dutt's film mints over Rs 1,100 crAt a time when the industry is debating influencer-led casting, Chhabra drew a clear line.“We keep recording data. But I only focus on a film once I get a script. I personally don’t find talent through Instagram,” he said, emphasising his reliance on auditions and grassroots scouting.See More: 'Dhurandhar 2' week 1 box office round-up: Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt film breaks every possible record by any Indian film, inches towards Rs 800 crore For Dhurandhar 2, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, the casting process was anything but straightforward.“We were discussing so many actors’ names for the film, but they kept saying no, because they didn’t want to be part of an ensemble film,” Chhabra revealed, recalling the struggle to cast key roles like the antagonist Rehman Dakait.He added, “Sometimes you don’t have to create a look for an actor,” stressing the importance of natural fit over cosmetic transformation. Interestingly, after the film’s release, several actors who had declined roles reached out again—this time with regret.One of the biggest casting wins came with Akshaye Khanna.“Akshaye Khanna’s name came towards the end... when I first called him, he said, ‘Are you mad?’ But I told him to at least hear the story. After the narration, he said ‘Fantastic!’ and confirmed within the day,” Chhabra shared.Similarly, R Madhavan came on board almost instantly.“I told him, trust me, we need only 10–12 days... he immediately said yes. He brought an authority to his performance. There is no action—he speaks calmly and never loses control,” he said. Chhabra’s philosophy remains distinct.“I don’t think about acting. I only think about casting for my character. If the acting is not that great but the actor is correct for my part, I will go with that actor,” he explained.That instinct extended to Dhurandhar 2, where he pushed for exhaustive casting.“I wanted to cast every single person on screen... my team spent two years auditioning and casting over 300 people for the film,” he revealed. The film also became a platform for discovering new talent, including Sara Arjun.“When I saw her audition, I went mad. The scene where she confronts Ranveer Singh about being an Indian agent—that was her audition,” he said. Today, as Dhurandhar 2 becomes both a box-office and cultural phenomenon, the spotlight is firmly on casting as a craft.More about 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge'Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film features Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Rakes Bedi, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sara Arjun in key role. The star cast also includes Danish Pandor, Gaurav Gera, Mustafa Ahmed, Danish Iqbal, Saumya Tandon, and more.It was released in theaters on March 19, 2026.