In Dhurandhar, the blockbuster film of 2025, one of the biggest reasons for its massive success was Akshaye Khanna’s powerful performance as Rehman Baloch, also known as Rehman Dakait.
His portrayal of the feared yet charismatic outlaw gave the film a gravitas that set it apart from routine action dramas.
Akshaye brought depth and menace to the role, making Rehman Dakait not just a villain but a memorable cinematic figure.
However, his character is killed in the climax, aligning closely with real history, where Rehman Baloch was eliminated by SP Chaudhry Aslam Khan, portrayed in the film by Sanjay Dutt. This creates a major challenge for Dhurandhar 2.
Technically, the biggest USP of the first part, Akshaye Khanna’s magnetic presence, cannot be carried forward into the sequel. This naturally raises the question of who will now command audience attention with the same, or even greater, impact.
The makers seem to be shifting the narrative focus toward the backstory of the protagonist, played by Ranveer Singh, and the deep-rooted reasons behind his personal vendetta against Pakistan.
This opens up rich narrative possibilities, allowing the sequel to explore emotional depth, political tension and psychological motivations.
There is little doubt that Dhurandhar 2 will open to massive numbers, driven by brand value and curiosity. Yet, the real test lies in whether the content can sustain interest without Akshaye Khanna’s towering screen presence.
Ultimately, the sequel’s success will depend on how convincingly it reinvents its emotional and dramatic core.
However, there is a buzz in Bollywood media that Vicky Kaushal is playing an interesting role in the film, which could draw strong attention from the audience.
With Chhaava, Vicky Kaushal has built a huge fan following, and this could further add to the hype around the film, if the reports turn out to be true.
Moreover there is a need for another song like "Fa9la" by Flipperachi in the second part as well for continued patronage and social media activity.
Don't know what the director Aditya Dhar has planned. The film is set to hit the screens on March 19, 2026.