Akshaye Khanna’s introduction sequence in Dhurandhar has become one of the film’s most widely shared moments, but choreographer Vijay Ganguly says the scene was far more demanding than it appears on screen.
In an interview with Mid-Day, Ganguly revealed that Khanna had to carry a small oxygen cylinder with him during the shoot of the track “FA9LA” in Ladakh. The high-altitude location made filming physically strenuous, and the actor experienced a dip in oxygen levels while performing the sequence that has now gone viral.
Also Read | Akshaye Khanna’s FA9LA entry went viral — but Vijay Ganguly reveals what really happened on set
'His oxygen level had dropped'
Speaking to Mid-Day, Ganguly said: “Akshaye would carry a small oxygen cylinder with him. When we were shooting this song, his oxygen level had dropped. So, after every shot, he would put the oxygen mask on. He did the sequence unflinchingly and then went home.”
The track, created by Bahraini hip-hop artist Flipperachi, has already become a breakout soundtrack moment from the film, further amplified by the popularity of Akshaye’s stylish entry.
The dance was completely spontaneous
Ganguly added that Khanna’s now-trending dance was not part of the original plan. The actor was meant to simply walk through the dancers and take his position on the throne.
Ganguly recalled: “Seeing the scene’s mood and the dancers’ performance, the fantastic actor that Akshaye is, he said he would dance a bit when he walks in. None of us knew what he was going to do. Akshaye entered the scene, took it from that point, and spontaneously performed.”
This impromptu decision created one of the most talked-about scenes from Dhurandhar and contributed significantly to the track’s surge in popularity.
Also Read | Akshaye Khanna’s viral Dhurandhar entry improvised on the spot, says Danish Pandor
Despite the location’s demanding conditions, the entire FA9LA sequence was wrapped up efficiently. Ganguly told Mid-Day: “It was the first shot we took that day, and it was perfect. Then we did a close-up, and we were done. Akshaye knows exactly what he has to do in a scene and plays with it.”
About Dhurandhar
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar stars Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, R. Madhavan, and Sanjay Dutt. The film released on December 5 and has been receiving strong word-of-mouth, with Khanna’s performance as Rehman Dakait drawing particular praise.
