As anticipation builds for "Dhurandhar 2," the sequel to the blockbuster spy thriller, the focus has been drawn once again to the character of Rehman Dakait, portrayed by Akshaye Khanna. The first installment, "Dhurandhar," took the Indian box office by storm, earning widespread critical acclaim, particularly for Khanna's compelling portrayal of the notorious Pakistani gangster. With "Dhurandhar 2" slated for release on March 19, 2026, and directed by Aditya Dhar, recent reports have clarified Khanna's involvement in the film.
Initially, there were reports about Akshaye Khanna shooting additional scenes for "Dhurandhar 2". However, it has now been confirmed that Khanna's presence in the sequel will be limited to flashback scenes that were filmed during the initial schedules. According to sources, "There is no additional filming happening with Akshaye Khanna at the moment. His portions were wrapped earlier and are part of key flashback moments in the narrative". This clarification puts to rest any speculation that the filmmakers were attempting to capitalize on the actor's popularity by adding scenes after the initial shoot.
Akshaye Khanna's portrayal of Rehman Dakait in "Dhurandhar" was lauded as one of the strongest antagonistic performances in recent Hindi cinema. Despite the character's death in the first film, the sequel will explore his backstory and influence through these flashback sequences.
Rehman Dakait was a real-life figure who operated in Karachi's Lyari neighborhood. Born Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch in 1980, he rose to prominence as a criminal leader involved in extortion, kidnapping, drug smuggling, and illegal arms sales. Dakait was also accused of involvement in over 100 crimes. His early life was marred by violence, and some reports even allege he murdered his own mother at the age of 15.
In 2008, Dakait formed the Peoples' Aman Committee (PAC) with the stated goal of ending gang hostilities and ensuring peacekeeping in Lyari. However, the PAC was also involved in criminal activities, including securing territorial control and extortion. Dakait's growing power in Lyari made him influential in local Karachi politics, and he associated himself with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Rehman Dakait was killed in a police encounter on August 9, 2009, a controversial death that continues to be debated.
As "Dhurandhar 2" gears up for its theatrical release, director Aditya Dhar has begun editing the film's trailer, aiming for a release by the end of February. Shashwat Sachdev is simultaneously working on the film's background score, prioritizing both sound and visuals. "Dhurandhar 2" is produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Aditya Dhar, and Lokesh Dhar under Jio Studios and B62 Studios. The film stars Ranveer Singh, along with Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal.
"Dhurandhar 2" is inspired by real-life geopolitical events, including the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, and the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The sequel will delve into Ranveer Singh's character's backstory, tracing his rise in Lyari and the completion of his covert anti-terror operation.
"Dhurandhar 2" is set to clash at the box office with Yash's "Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups," promising a significant cinematic showdown. Despite the competition, Aditya Dhar has reaffirmed that "Dhurandhar 2" will be released as scheduled on March 19, coinciding with the Eid holiday.
