Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar recently addressed why he wasn’t cast in Dhurandhar, the hit action thriller starring Ranveer Singh. Speaking at the India Today Conclave Delhi 2026 during a session titled The Khiladi: Method Behind the Hit Machine, Akshay explained that director Aditya Dhar simply hadn’t thought of him for the role.
On Not Being Approached
“I don’t think Aditya thought that, so I didn’t get it,” Akshay said, responding to questions about whether he would have fit into the Lyari gang storyline.
He used Dhurandhar as an example to highlight changing audience preferences:
“Take Dhurandhar, for example. It’s a full-fledged action film… People have loved it… Everything keeps changing, and we never really know what audiences will like next.”
No Jealousy or Insecurity
When asked if he felt insecure or jealous, Akshay candidly replied:
“Regret as in you feel you wish you had done this film, but jalan nahi hoti (there’s no jealousy). Many times, when I meet Ranveer, he tells me, ‘woh kya film ki thi, I wish I had done it.’ This happens. Koi film woh karna chahta hai aur koi main. Hum log 15–20 actors hai aur Hindustan mein 180 filmein banti hai toh sabko kaam milta hai. So, everyone had roles.”
Perspective on Bollywood Trends
Akshay also reflected on how the industry evolves with audience tastes:
- Action-packed films like Dhurandhar continue to perform well.
- Horror comedies, like Stree, have also become big hits.
- Actors often navigate a mix of genres, highlighting the unpredictability of what will click with viewers.
Akshay’s take shows a mature outlook on the industry — appreciating peers’ successes without feeling insecure, while embracing the changing dynamics of Bollywood storytelling.