'Akshaye had little to say, but was very cooperative’: Neeta

Akshaye Khanna has long maintained an air of mystique around him. Known for avoiding parties, interviews and unnecessary public appearances, the actor has consistently chosen to live life on his own terms.

Colleagues often describe him as serious, deeply passionate about his craft and largely unaffected by public opinion or industry pressures.Those who know him say he prefers solitary pursuits like gardening, reading and music. Calm, collected and emotionally stable, Akshaye is rarely drawn to drama or public validation — a trait that has defined him since his school days.Currently riding high on the success of his two blockbusters Chhaava and Dhurandhar, the actor has once again become a major talking point online.

With the roaring success of Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, Akshaye Khanna emerged as 2025’s ultimate internet sensation.

‘Akshaye was always soft-spoken’

Rewinding to the past, celebrated costume designer Neeta Lulla shared her experience of working with Akshaye during the making of Taal, directed by Subhash Ghai.Speaking to NDTV, she said, “Akshaye was always soft-spoken, but I won’t call him quiet.”Recalling his approach to wardrobe and direction, she added, “What I remember about Akshaye Khanna is that he had little to say.

He was very cooperative. And with Subhash ji, none of us can open our mouths if he wants a particular look. He wants a particular look, and he knows what he wants.”She further explained how accommodating the actor was on set. “If Akshaye didn’t want to wear a red scarf and Subhash ji said he needed to wear a red scarf, so be it. But Akshaye was that cooperative, and he was a brilliant actor. Our eyes used to look at him in awe. It was like watching a movie in real life.”

Work front

Akshaye’s next film is titled Mahakali, directed by noted South Indian filmmaker Prashanth Varma, who previously delivered the blockbuster Hanu-Man.In Mahakali, Akshaye will make his Telugu debut, playing the role of Asura Guru Shukracharya. The makers had unveiled his first look earlier, generating significant buzz around the project. Akshaye Khanna is also set to star in the upcoming courtroom drama Ikka, marking a major reunion with Sunny Deol nearly 29 years after Border. Directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra, the 2026 thriller will feature an intense face-off, with Deol playing an incorruptible lawyer defending a murder accused portrayed by Khanna.