After spending nearly three decades in the Hindi film industry, Akshaye Khanna has delivered a career-defining year that few could have predicted. In 2025, the actor scripted box office history by becoming the first Indian actor after Shah Rukh Khan to earn over ₹2000 crore globally in a single calendar year. The achievement places him ahead of contemporaries like Prabhas and underlines a rare commercial dominance driven by performance rather than spectacle.
The year began with a striking performance in Laxman Utekar’s historical epic Chhaava. Starring Vicky Kaushal in the lead, the film featured Akshaye Khanna as Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, a role marked by restraint and quiet menace. Released in January 2025, Chhaava emerged as a major box office success, earning ₹809 crore worldwide. It remained the highest-grossing Indian film of the year for several months and drew widespread praise for how Akshaye Khanna elevated the antagonist’s arc.
Dhurandhar Pushes the Record Further
If Chhaava set the tone, December’s Dhurandhar sealed the historic run. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy thriller starred Ranveer Singh alongside Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. Despite the ensemble cast, it was Akshaye Khanna’s portrayal of gangster Rehman Dakait that stood out and became the film’s defining element.
Powered by strong word of mouth, Dhurandhar went on to become the most successful Hindi film domestically in 2025. The film has so far collected ₹1167 crore worldwide and is expected to cross ₹1190 crore by the end of the weekend. With Chhaava and Dhurandhar combined, Akshaye Khanna has officially crossed the ₹2000 crore mark at the global box office in a single calendar year.
Second Only to Shah Rukh Khan
So far, Shah Rukh Khan remains the only other Indian actor to achieve this feat, earning ₹2685 crore in 2023 through Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki. While Aamir Khan’s Dangal also crossed ₹2000 crore, its earnings were spread across two years and separate release windows. What makes this milestone unique is that both 2025 blockbusters featured Akshaye Khanna in antagonist roles, reshaping the idea of box office stardom in contemporary Hindi cinema.
FAQs
Q: How did Akshaye Khanna cross ₹2000 crore at the box office?
A: Akshaye Khanna achieved the milestone through Chhaava and Dhurandhar, which together earned over ₹2000 crore worldwide in 2025.
Q: Is Akshaye Khanna the first Indian actor to achieve this milestone?
A: No. Shah Rukh Khan achieved it in 2023, but Akshaye Khanna is the first actor after SRK to cross ₹2000 crore in a single year.
Q: Which films helped Akshaye Khanna surpass Prabhas in 2025?
A: Chhaava and Dhurandhar contributed to Akshaye Khanna’s cumulative box office earnings, pushing him ahead of Prabhas for the year.
Q: Why is this milestone important for Akshaye Khanna’s career?
A: It highlights his long-standing relevance and shows that strong performances can drive massive commercial success.
