Mumbai: Dhurandhar has finally reached theatres and from the very first frame, Akshaye Khanna seizes complete control. The character of Rehman Dakait bursts into the scene like an unspoken storm, slowly gripping your screen until you notice that the whole movie has revolved around his character.
Akshaye Khanna’s performance is shaped with an unusual stillness, a precision that only an actor with deep instinct and years of craft can bring. Having been versatile and possessing a rare talent of being able to melt into characters, he makes Rehman become a character that seems touchingly real. There is no trace of exaggeration or dramatic flamboyance. Every gesture, pause, and silence lands with the accuracy of a weapon.
He blends so seamlessly into Rehman Dakait that the performer vanishes, and in his place stand only a villain with his inner world all so disturbingly alive.
A Performance That Grounds the Spy Thriller with Dark Emotional Weight
As Dhurandhar unfolds, Akshaye Khanna’s arc becomes richer and more unpredictable. He holds the film’s centre with a chilling sense of calm. The intensity in his eyes, the calculated timing of his reactions, and his ability to communicate danger without uttering a single word take the whole story to the next level.
Rehman is not just a gangster. He is a mind constantly measuring threats, power, and opportunity. It is strangely poetic to see him in the midst of a deadly combat zone as Akshaye Khanna uses decades of filmmaking experience to create a villain who is uncultured, nuanced, frighteningly real.
The Real Rehman Dakait: The Man Behind the Cinematic Shadow
Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch, known as Rehman Dakait, was one of Karachi’s most feared underworld figures during the 1990s and 2000s. Born in the violent neighbourhood of Lyari, he grew up surrounded by gang wars that shaped his worldview. Dadal Baloch, his father, had been a drug smugglers since the 1960s, and Rehman got into the criminal world very early.
His rise to power was brutal. At a young age of thirteen, he is reported to have stabbed a man. He had also been accused of murdering his own mother due to her association with a rival gang member. The gang led by Rehman secured a close control over the area of Lyari, competing with other influential criminal organizations.
His greatest rivalry was with Arshad Pappu, the son of Haji Lalu. Their fights made Lyari a war zone as many innocent people lost their lives. One infamous real incident involved Rehman publicly murdering someone close to Arshad Pappu, an event that inspired a disturbing scene in Dhurandhar where Akshaye Khanna’s character kills a man on a busy street.
Rehman operated through the People’s Aman Committee but also ran his smuggling business independently, making him both politically connected and dangerously unpredictable. In 2005, he was arrested by Zulfiqar Mirza but escaped. His reign ended in 2009 when he was killed in a police encounter.
Rehman Dakait is a legend in the Karachi underworld even today as a symbol of violence, strength, and fear.
Akshaye Khanna’s Dialogues Hit Hard
One of the most talked about lines in the film is:
“Rehman Dakait ki di hui maut bahut kasainuma hoti hai.”
This dialogue resonates because it echoes the reality of the real gangster, whose brutal methods became infamous throughout Karachi. Akshaye Khanna performs it with such reigned danger that it turns into one of the most prominent scenes of Dhurandhar.
Dhurandhar’s World of Crime and Power
Director Aditya Dhar uses Dhurandhar to explore the intertwined worlds of crime, politics, and betrayal in Karachi’s gangland. The film pulls from real events but presents them through a fictional lens, blending research with cinematic storytelling.
The complex environment of Lyari, where gang violence dictated everyday life, becomes a crucial backdrop. The character of Rehman Dakait becomes the gateway into that dark world, and Akshaye Khanna’s portrayal intensifies the realism.
Public Curiosity About the Real Inspiration Behind Dhurandhar
Dhurandhar has attracted attention for another reason. Several discussions on social media suggested that the film draws from the life of Late Major Mohit Sharma. However, when the Central Board of Film Certification reviewed the movie, it confirmed that there were no similarities between the story and the soldier’s life.
Rather, most audiences feel that the background of the movie is linked to the Pakistani government campaign, Operation Lyari a colossal crackdown on gang violence. While the film does not directly confirm this, the thematic parallels are hard to miss.
Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar stands out not only for its large scale storytelling but also for how it pulls audiences into the violent history of Lyari. The movie is based on true to life events but it is a fictional drama with high octane action, emotion and strong performances.
But above everything else, Akshaye Khanna’s portrayal of Rehman Dakait becomes its heartbeat. He brings a chilling authenticity to the screen, turning a feared gangster into a fully realised cinematic force.
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