Akshaye Khanna scored big this year with impeccable, most acclaimed performances that reshaped the idea of the on screen antagonist.
Indian cinema in 2025 repeatedly returned to his work for its restraint, menace and intelligence.
With rare precision, he made darkness compelling without theatrics, turning silence, gaze and timing into powerful tools that critics and audiences unanimously praised.
The year 2025 marked his definitive dominance in negative roles nationwide critically commercially.
In February, Chhaava arrived with Khanna as Aurangzeb, a historical figure layered with ambition, cruelty and cold logic. His portrayal presented a cruel ruler shaped by power and paranoia.
The performance anchored the film, earning acclaim for its authenticity, measured intensity and moral complexity.
December’s Dhurandhar sealed the year, with Khanna as Rehman Dakait, a real life criminal in Pakistan etched with unsettling realism.
By inhabiting another true figure, he reinforced his range and authority. Together, these roles ensured 2025 belonged to Akshay Khanna as the most acclaimed on screen antagonist.
