Akshaye Khanna joins elite Rs 2,000-crore club in landmark year

Actor Akshaye Khanna has achieved a rare box-office milestone, becoming only the second Indian actor—after Shah Rukh Khan—whose films have collectively grossed Rs 2,000 crore within a single calendar year.

Although Khanna has spent three decades in the industry, 2025 has emerged as a defining phase of his career. The actor played antagonist roles in two major releases that went on to become the highest-grossing Hindi films of the year, earning both critical acclaim and remarkable commercial success.

The run began in January with "Chhaava", directed by Laxman Utekar and starring Vicky Kaushal in the lead. Khanna's portrayal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was widely praised, as the film grossed Rs 809 crore worldwide and held the position of the year's highest-grossing Indian film for much of 2025.

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His second major success came in December with "Dhurandhar", directed by Aditya Dhar. Despite an ensemble cast that included Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan and Arjun Rampal, Khanna's turn as gangster Rehman Dakait stood out. Powered by strong word of mouth, the film became the most successful Hindi release domestically and has so far earned Rs 1,167 crore worldwide, with further earnings expected.

Together, "Chhaava" and "Dhurandhar" have taken Khanna's combined box-office total for 2025 to Rs 2,001 crore.

The only other actor to surpass the Rs 2,000-crore mark within a single year remains Shah Rukh Khan, whose 2023 releases—"Pathaan", "Jawan" and "Dunki"—collectively grossed Rs 2,685 crore worldwide. Aamir Khan also crossed the figure with "Dangal", though its earnings were spread across two years and separate release windows.

Several actors, including Prabhas and Allu Arjun, have come close with blockbuster releases, while Ranbir Kapoor may still reach the mark with upcoming projects. For now, however, Akshaye Khanna stands as the only non-Khan actor to achieve the milestone within a single calendar year.