When Dhurandhar hit theatres on December 5, 2025, much of the spotlight was on Ranveer Singh — as expected. But unexpectedly, perhaps the loudest applause went to a quieter, intense performer: Akshaye Khanna.
His entry scene, backed by a high-octane track, quickly became a sensation on social media — and somewhere along the line, old memories resurfaced, linking Akshaye’s moves to those of his legendary father, Vinod Khanna.
Akshaye’s Viral Entry: When Dhurandhar Broke the Internet
In Dhurandhar, Akshaye essays the role of Rehman Dakait — a menacing Pakistani gangster-turned-political figure. Early in the film, he makes a grand entrance: stepping out of a car, nodding a calm ‘salaam’ to the crowd, before the background dancers begin. And then — unexpectedly — Akshaye steps in. Dressed in a sharp black suit, with cool confidence and subtle swagger, he grooves. The scene is heightened by the powerful track FA9LA by Gulf-based rapper Flipperachi. The moment — his smirk, his aura, the moves — struck a chord with viewers. Within hours, reels, memes, and reactions began flooding social media.
A Blast from the Past: When Vinod Khanna Once Moved Like This
Here’s where it gets poetic. As Akshaye’s dance conquered the internet, enthusiasts surfaced an old video — from a concert reportedly held in Lahore in 1989 — featuring Vinod Khanna dancing alongside iconic actor Rekha. Many watching that clip couldn’t help but notice the similarity: some of the hand gestures, the rhythm, the mellow swagger — echoes of what Akshaye did in Dhurandhar.
Fans began calling the move a “tribute” — or perhaps a subconscious echo of a legacy passed from father to son. While some debated whether it was a direct homage or mere coincidence (after all, the dance in the film was improvised), the emotion behind the comparison struck a chord. For many, it wasn’t just about dance steps — it was nostalgia, continuity, and a quiet acknowledgement of heritage.
Akhaye Khanna’s Anti Hero Anthem
The viral clip catapulted Dhurandhar — and Akshaye — into a whole new stratosphere. The “FA9LA” sequence has been dubbed by many as the “next anti-hero anthem” — a moment echoing past viral hits like Jamal Kudu from Animal.
Even celebrities have joined the wave. For example, badminton icon Saina Nehwal recreated the entry step in public, and her father — who she jokingly tagged as a “Vinod Khanna fan” — joined in the fun, showing how deeply the moment resonated across generations. Meanwhile, social media reactions have ranged from pure admiration to emotional nostalgia — fans saying things like: “Mere dada bhi aise dance karte the” (My grandpa used to dance like this too), and “That moment proves talent is generational.”
Akshaye’s unplanned dance — raw, real, and full of attitude — melds present-day edge with vintage softness. It reminds us that art often transcends time: that a gesture, a step, a smile can connect decades and hold meaning far beyond the frame of a camera.