Akshaye Khanna in 'Dhurandhar' plays Rehman Dakait: The chilling story of notorious Karachi's Lyari gangster who killed his mother and hanged her

Akshaye Khanna is having a moment as the internet cannot get enough of his 'aura farming' and 'dominance' as Rehman Dakait in Aditya Dhar's octane spy thriller 'Dhurandhar'. Akshaye Khanna has claimed the spotlight for his intense and powerful performance and has earned the 'comeback king' title. Social media is buzzing with praise for him, and fans can't stop talking about how brilliantly he has brought the character to life.

Akshaye Khanna plays the role of Rehman Dakait in 'Dhurandhar' and his gripping performance has captured the attention of the masses. And while many are heaping praises on Akshaye Khanna, many have pointed out that the real Rehman Dakait was even more ferocious than what we see on screen.

Akshaye Khanna in Dhurandhar

Dhurandhar blends real events with fiction to craft a gripping portrayal of India’s covert war on terror inside Pakistan. The story unfolds in the late 2000s in Karachi’s Lyari — a notorious stronghold of gang violence. Akshaye Khanna stars as Rehman, the feared kingpin who controls the area alongside his cousin and trusted deputy.


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Who was Rehman Dakait?

'Dhurandhar' is set in the late 2000s in Karachi’s Lyari, a hotbed of gang activity. Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch, widely known as Rehman Dakait, was born into a family already linked to smuggling networks and entered the criminal world at a very young age, reports TOI's Ayush Pandey. At 13, he allegedly committed his first violent crime when he stabbed someone.

By the mid 1990s, he earned the reputation of being involved in extreme violence with some local accounts alleging that he even murdered his own murder during a domestic dispute. According to Express Tribune, Rehman Dakait killed his own mother by strangling her and then hanging her from the ceiling fan.

Rehman Dakait consolidates Lyari town

Rehman Dakait had managed to assert strong control over large parts of Lyari by the early 2000s through illicit economy, including drug trafficking, extortion and gambling rackets.

Oral testimonies, media reports and academic research depict how he channelled criminal profits into small clinics, madrassas, football tournaments, neighbourhood parks and local schools, using these investments to cultivate loyalty. Rehman joined Haji Laloo’s gang in the late 90s and took over the gang’s command after Laloo’s arrest in 2001. Rehman turned Lyari into his stronghold, with Uzair and their associate, Baba Ladla, as his go-to men.

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Akshaye Khanna as Rehman Dakait

Khanna’s swagger-filled entry, set to the Arabic song FA9LA by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi, has captured the attention of the people. The latest fan to join the long list of those impressed by his dance is badminton player Saina Nehwal. On Sunday, she recreated the actor's viral dance steps inside an airport.

“When you’re #akshaykhanna #fan and papa is #vinodkhanna fan,” Nehwal captioned the video on Instagram. Akshaye Khanna has become all the rage among those who watched Dhurandhar and has earned praises like ‘show stealer’ and 'comeback king'.

An X user noted that Khanna overshadowed Ranveer Singh in his introductory scene. “Akshaye Khanna casually walked in and overshadowed the main lead like it was nothing. The screen presence is different,” he wrote, sharing a clip from Dhurandhar.

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“Akshaye Khanna is the most versatile actor Indian Cinema has ever seen. He again proved in #Dhurandhar,” wrote another, heaping praise on Khanna’s stellar performance in Dhurandhar, which has already minted over Rs 105 crore domestically since its 5 December release.

Several X users described Khanna’s role in Dhurandhar as his career-defining performance.

“Akshaye Khanna walks in and the whole frame just shifts. His fury, his grace, his stillness - everything hits harder than anyone else on screen. He doesn't just act; he dominates. Ranveer and the rest barely stand a chance. And the music? Pure magic - every track melts perfectly into the mood of the film,” wrote an X user, extolling both Khanna and the film’s soundtrack.

Khanna was seen in Vicky Kaushal-led Chhaava before Dhurandhar. In the historical drama, the 50-year-old actor essayed the role of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. According to Telegraph, Akshaye Khanna is set to collaborate with Bobby Deol in Humraaz 2, according to media reports. The film will serve as a sequel to the 2002 thriller Humraaz.