Entertainment

Not Heroes, But Villains Steal the Spotlight: How Bobby Deol’s ‘Animal’ and Akshaye Khanna’s ‘Dhurandhar’ Changed Their Fortunes

How Akshaye Khanna and Bobby Deol Reinvented Their Careers Through Powerful Negative Roles

The landscape of Indian cinema is changing rapidly, and today, villains are stealing more limelight than traditional heroes. The latest name to join this trend is Akshaye Khanna, who has impressed audiences with his menacing performance as Rahman Daku in Dhurandhar. Before him, Bobby Deol had already set the benchmark by redefining villainy with his role as Abrar Haque in Animal.

There is a famous saying in Bollywood — “Tear the poster and a hero emerges.” But times have changed. Now, when the poster tears, it’s no longer a hero but a powerful villain who commands attention. Two years ago, Bobby Deol transformed the definition of a Bollywood antagonist with Animal, delivering a performance that left a lasting impact on audiences.

Villain Roles Changed Their Destiny

In the present day, Akshaye Khanna has gained even greater popularity for his negative role in Dhurandhar than he ever did as a lead hero. What makes this remarkable is the fact that when both Akshaye and Bobby were headlining films as protagonists, they struggled to achieve this level of stardom.

Interestingly, Akshaye Khanna began experimenting with negative roles even before Bobby Deol. Films like Humraaz, Race, and Dishoom helped him establish himself as a formidable antagonist. In 2025, his performances in Chhaava and Dhurandhar have firmly positioned him as one of Hindi cinema’s strongest villains.

After the success of Race in 2008, Akshaye Khanna spent years searching for a major hit. That wait finally ended in 2025, proving that he achieved his career peak at the age of 50. His portrayal of Rahman Daku in Dhurandhar has been widely praised, with critics and audiences applauding his intensity and screen presence.

Similarly, Bobby Deol, who endured years without a major hit, made a stunning comeback in 2023 with Animal. Playing the antagonist Abrar Haque for the first time, Bobby delivered a performance that contributed to the film becoming an all-time blockbuster. Even today, his character continues to dominate discussions across social media.

Entry Songs That Became Sensations

Just as Bobby Deol’s Iranian track “Jamal Kudu” created a massive buzz in Animal, Akshaye Khanna’s Bahraini song “FA9LA” from Dhurandhar is currently trending at number one across India. This clearly highlights how modern Bollywood now crafts iconic songs not just for heroes, but also for villains — and they turn into chartbusters.

When Rahman and Abrar Shared the Screen

Few may remember that Akshaye Khanna (Rahman Daku) and Bobby Deol (Abrar Haque) have previously shared screen space. The two actors appeared together in films like Humraaz and Naqaab, long before their villainous avatars redefined their careers.