Mumbai: Bollywood actor Akshaye Khanna is once again enjoying massive fanfare following his menacing performance as Rehman Dakait in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar. His viral entry set to Flipperachi’s Fa9la has turned social media into a celebration of his screen presence, with many calling it one of the most iconic villain introductions of recent years. Amid this renewed craze, an old video of Kareena Kapoor Khan resurfaced online, reminding fans that admiration for Akshaye Khanna is hardly a recent phenomenon.
The clip, from the 2004 promotions of Hulchul, features Kareena candidly confessing that she was “mad” about Akshaye during her school days after watching his debut film Himalaya Putra. As fans rediscover the video, it has added a nostalgic charm to the ongoing conversation about the actor’s enduring appeal.
Kareena Kapoor on being crazy about Akshaye
During the publicity interviews for Priyadarshan’s Hulchul, Kareena enthusiastically spoke about her admiration for Akshaye. She revealed that she had watched Himalaya Putra “at least 20 times” during her schooldays.
“I have watched Himalay Putra at least 20 times because at that time I was in school and Akshaye Khanna was the latest heartthrob. Toh ladkiyan unke peeche pagal thi, and usmein main bhi thi,” Kareena said, laughing. “It was like ‘Akshaye Khanna I am a bachelor, I am a bachelor, My God Akshaye Khanna’, so it was like that. So I have always liked Akshaye.”
She went on to praise him not only for his talent but also for his personality.
“He is so cute, adorable and such a good human being. He is such a wonderful actor; he is the right person to go to Hollywood because his performances are mind-blowing,” Kareena added.
The resurfaced clip has now gone viral again, with fans of both actors celebrating their chemistry and dynamic from Hulchul.
About Hulchul and their on-screen pairing
Released in 2004, Hulchul was a Hindi remake of the 1991 Malayalam hit Godfather. Directed by Priyadarshan, the romantic comedy brought together a large ensemble cast featuring Akshaye Khanna, Kareena Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Jackie Shroff, Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal, Arbaaz Khan, Farha Naaz and Shakti Kapoor.
The story revolved around two warring families and a revenge plan that evolves into a charming romance. Akshaye played Jai, while Kareena portrayed Anjali — two youngsters pretending to fall in love to provoke their feuding families, only to find themselves genuinely drawn to each other. The film’s blend of humour, drama and memorable one-liners has helped it attain cult status over the years, especially among fans of early-2000s Bollywood.
With the current wave of nostalgia-driven social media content, the Kareena-Akshaye pairing from Hulchul has been rediscovered by younger audiences as well.
Akshaye Khanna’s resurgence with Dhurandhar
Following his strong turn as Emperor Aurangzeb earlier this year in Chhaava opposite Vicky Kaushal — a film that became the second-highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 with ₹807.91 crore worldwide — Akshaye has entered yet another successful phase.
In Dhurandhar, he plays Rehman Dakait, a ruthless antagonist whose presence reportedly overshadows even the film’s protagonist, played by Ranveer Singh. The film also features Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt and child actor Sara Arjun in key roles.
Audience reactions have been overwhelmingly enthusiastic, with many praising Akshaye’s intensity, screen command and the haunting swag he brings to his villainous role. As per industry estimates, the film has already collected ₹193 crore worldwide and continues to perform well at the box office.
The viral storm around his entry dance to the song Fa9la has further cemented his current cultural moment, reminding fans of his ability to command attention effortlessly.
Upcoming projects for Akshaye Khanna and Kareena Kapoor
Akshaye’s next big release will be Prasanth Varma’s Mahakali, where he plays the character of Shukracharya. The first-look poster, featuring his intense avatar, garnered widespread appreciation and heightened anticipation for the film’s release.
Kareena Kapoor, on the other hand, is set to star in Meghna Gulzar’s upcoming directorial Daayra, alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran. The film is currently under production and is expected to hit theatres in 2026.
Both actors, who have carved unique and enduring identities in Hindi cinema, continue to remain fixtures of audience interest — one through his mysterious on-screen brilliance and the other through her versatile, star-powered choices.
Conclusion
As Akshaye Khanna basks in the renewed acclaim surrounding Dhurandhar, the resurfaced video of Kareena Kapoor’s candid admiration offers a delightful look back at the early 2000s Bollywood era. The rediscovery of their camaraderie only adds to the nostalgia that fans are embracing today, proving once again that certain stars — and certain confessions — never lose their charm.