Mumbai: The Dhurandhar wave continues to sweep across India as celebrities, athletes and fans join the social media frenzy surrounding the blockbuster. The latest to hop onto the trend is badminton star Saina Nehwal, who recreated the viral hook step from Akshaye Khanna’s grand introduction scene—much to the delight of the Internet.
Saina shared the video on Instagram, where she is seen energetically performing the move that has become synonymous with Akshaye Khanna’s character in the film. The post quickly began trending, adding to the ever-growing Dhurandhar mania.
Saina recreates Akshaye Khanna’s viral introduction step
In the video, Saina performs the hook step featured in FA9LA, the high-energy track that underscores Akshaye Khanna’s entry as Rehman Dakait, a Pakistani crime lord-turned-politician. The song, composed by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi, has emerged as one of the most replayed audio clips from the movie.
However, the highlight of Saina’s clip was a surprise cameo by her father, Harvir Singh Nehwal, who appeared at the end of the video. Saina explained that while she is a fan of Akshaye Khanna, her father has long admired Vinod Khanna, adding a personal and nostalgic touch to the viral moment.
The Internet responded with affection and humour.
Comments included:
“Harveer bhai saheb.”
“Meri bebe se na isna dance aata na manne.”
“Sooooo cute.”
Dhurandhar emerges as the latest cultural phenomenon
Ever since its release, Dhurandhar has sparked an online movement. The film’s performances, especially by Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, have been widely praised, with social media users calling them some of the actors’ finest.
Film veteran Tanuja, among other celebrities, has also shared her admiration for the film, leading fans to declare that the country is now firmly in its “Dhurandhar era.”
Choreographies, dialogues, memes and fan edits associated with the movie have flooded Instagram and X, helping amplify the film’s impact beyond cinemas.
Box office: Dhurandhar defies predictions
In a significant turn of events, Dhurandhar has surpassed box office expectations. Over its opening weekend, the movie minted ₹103 crore, proving earlier predictions wrong.
Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh wrote:
“#Dhurandhar goes on a rampage on Saturday — the film is now in unstoppable mode… While the major centres, especially the national chains, were rocking on Friday, the heartland has also joined the party, witnessing substantial growth.”
He added that a ₹95 crore +/- opening weekend was on the cards, a figure the film has already exceeded, solidifying its blockbuster status.
A powerful cinematic comeback for Aditya Dhar
Dhurandhar marks the return of Aditya Dhar, the filmmaker behind Uri: The Surgical Strike. With the new film, Dhar presents a fresh cinematic language of robust nationalism, combining high-octane action with multilayered characters.
His storytelling approach has attracted attention from critics and audiences alike, many calling Dhurandhar his strongest work yet.
Star-studded ensemble elevates the narrative
The film boasts an impressive cast that includes Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal—each contributing significantly to the cinematic experience.
Ranveer Singh’s gritty performance and Akshaye Khanna’s intense portrayal of Rehman Dakait have especially stood out. The dynamic between these characters forms the spine of the film, contributing to its massive online traction.
Dhurandhar trend shows no signs of slowing down
With athletes like Saina Nehwal joining the Dhurandhar wave, the trend continues to gather steam. It reflects how deeply the film has penetrated Indian pop culture—transcending cinema halls and becoming an Internet-wide celebration.
As more fans recreate FA9LA, revisit Khanna’s iconic introduction and celebrate Dhar’s latest creation, Dhurandhar appears on track to become one of the year’s defining entertainment moments.