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Akshaye Khanna's viral Fa9la look from Dhurandhar almost didn't happen: ‘I’m not sure if we should take this route…’
Akshaye Khanna’s on-screen presence in Dhurandhar owes much to a carefully built costume journey, one that started with hesitation
Akshaye Khanna’s commanding screen presence in Dhurandhar has emerged as one of the film’s biggest talking points. From his first appearance to the now-viral Fa9la sequence, audiences have been fixated not just on the character of Rehman Dakait, but on how he looks. What many don’t know, however, is that the outfit that now feels inseparable from the character almost didn’t make it to the screen.
A look that needed to feel lived-in
In a conversation with Digital Commentary, costume designer Smriti Chauhan revealed that the initial costume plan was a whole different story. Akshaye was meant to appear largely in pathanis — pretty simple, right? But the actor felt that this route lacked essence. “It was a very important input by Akshaye sir himself, that we should not forget that he is also from the streets,” said Smriti.
That single suggestion altered the character’s costume journey entirely. Smriti explained that soon after, the outfits were designed to mirror Rehman Dakait’s political rise throughout the film. “It made a lot of sense, because we also see his rise in the film as he progresses to join a political party later in the story. So, we had a journey where we see him distressed in linens and denims, and then cut to silk-wool pathani, which is one of the most important looks in the film.”
Furthermore, the process of finalising the look wasn’t instant. Smriti shared that even after the first look test, Akshaye remained unsure. “He had the first look test, and after a few weeks, we were summoned for a meeting. He said, ‘I’m not sure if we take this route,’ and we were like, okay.” What followed was a deeper conversation about the character’s origins. “That’s when he mentioned that we can’t forget he comes from the street and there has to be ruggedness to his vibe,” she continued.
The moment that sealed it
One of Dhurandhar’s most replayed sequences is Rehman vibing to Fa9la. Even this iconic moment underwent last-minute changes. Smriti revealed that the original plan had everyone dressed in black until cultural authenticity reshaped the idea. “Initially, the idea was that all dancers would be in black. But if you see the original Balochis, they wear white a lot. So Aditya sir suggested we go with white because that’s the original look,” she said.
With dozens of dancers in white under bright sunlight, the team faced a new visual challenge. “That’s when we decided Akshaye sir should wear all black, with all the dancers in white. Rehman Dakait was awarded Sher-E-Baloch, so we had to make him stand out. We discussed which shades of colour to give him, but I was sure he had to be in black. Everyone agreed quickly, and keeping it rooted in Balochi culture, I stuck with a Balochi pathani for him,” she said.
Aditya Dhar's inputs
Additionally, director Aditya Dhar remained closely involved throughout the process. Summing up the intent behind the look, Smriti recalled, “Aditya sir always knew that whatever is said or done, when Rehman Dakait enters, people should freeze. I think we have achieved that.” Judging by the reaction online and the lasting impact of Akshaye's look, the intention clearly translated on screen.
