Saina Nehwal recreates Akshaye Khanna’s ‘Rehman Dakait’ entry from Dhurandhar; father steals the show

The Dhurandhar wave shows no signs of slowing down. From veteran actor Tanuja to badminton champion Saina Nehwal, the film has captured attention across the country. Social media is buzzing with praise for Akshaye Khanna and Ranveer Singh, with many calling their performances among the most engaging in recent years.

Adding to the online frenzy, Saina Nehwal shared a lighthearted Instagram video recreating the viral hook step from Akshaye Khanna’s grand entry in Dhurandhar. The sequence, set to FA9LA by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi, has quickly become one of the most replayed and memed audio clips from the film. In Dhurandhar, the track accompanies Khanna’s explosive introduction as Rehman Dakait, a Pakistani crime lord turned political kingmaker.

The video’s highlight, however, was an unexpected cameo at the end — Saina’s father, Harvir Singh Nehwal, casually joining in. Saina explained the moment by saying that while she has long admired Akshaye Khanna, her father has been a devoted Vinod Khanna fan for years. The playful clip resonated instantly with fans, who flooded the comments with messages like, “Meri bebe se na isna dance aata na manne,” “Harveer bhai saheb,” and simply, “Sooooo cute.”

Meanwhile, Dhurandhar continues to dominate the box office. The film has already collected ?103 crore in India over its opening weekend, surpassing early expectations. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh noted the film’s strong momentum, saying, “#Dhurandhar goes on a rampage on Saturday — the film is now in unstoppable mode… the heartland has also joined the party, witnessing substantial growth. A ?95 crore [+/-] opening weekend total is very much on the cards.”

Directed by Aditya Dhar of Uri: The Surgical Strike fame, Dhurandhar combines political intrigue, emotionally charged storytelling, and high-octane action. Starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal, the film has emerged as one of the season’s most talked-about releases, drawing audiences with its large-scale spectacle and memorable performances.