Choreographer & filmmaker Farah Khan recently opened up about her early working experience with actor Akshaye Khanna revealing that their initial collaborations in the 1990s were far from pleasant. According to Farah, the actor was often irritable on set during that period, something she believes stemmed from his struggle with hair loss at the time.
Akshaye Khanna has recently returned to the spotlight with Dhurandhar directed by Aditya Dhar. The renewed attention around the actor has also led fans to revisit his eccentric performance in Tees Maar Khan. While the film failed to impress at the box office upon release, it has gradually gained a cult following over the years, especially for Akshaye’s quirky portrayal of Aatish Kapoor.
Speaking on the podcast hosted by Ranveer Allahbadia, Farah admitted that she once avoided working with Akshaye altogether because of his behaviour on set. She said that during the 1990s, after collaborating with him on a couple of films, she found him difficult to work with.
Farah recalled that Akshaye was extremely introverted and often seemed upset while shooting. “He was not a nice person on set back then. Whenever I heard that Akshaye Khanna was part of a film, I would say I didn’t have the dates,” she said. According to her, the actor himself had spoken about dealing with hair loss at the time, which appeared to affect his mood.
She added that he would sometimes express frustration during shoots, even questioning the dialogues or throwing things around in irritation.
However, Farah said her perception of the actor shifted when she worked with him again on Dil Chahta Hai, the directorial debut of her cousin Farhan Akhtar. The film also starred Aamir Khan and Saif Ali Khan.
By then, she noticed a significant change in Akshaye’s personality. “He had completely changed. He had reconciled with his hair and had become very chilled out,” Farah said.
She also pointed out that earlier in his career, the actor would often wear a cap in scenes involving water or rain, referencing songs from films like Taal. But after Dil Chahta Hai, he appeared more comfortable and confident.
Farah also praised Akshaye’s dancing skills, highlighting his performance in the popular track “Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe,” where she believes he held his own alongside Aamir and Saif.
During the conversation, Farah revealed that Akshaye Khanna’s role of Aatish Kapoor in Tees Maar Khan had initially been offered to other actors. She said that Sharman Joshi was the first choice for the part but declined the offer as he was busy shooting for Ferrari Ki Sawaari at the time.
According to Farah, Akshaye wasn’t the obvious choice for the eccentric role, but he eventually embraced the over-the-top comedic character and delivered a memorable performance.
Meanwhile, Farah Khan also hinted at returning to filmmaking soon. During a conversation with Nakuul Mehta on her YouTube channel, she acknowledged the social media trend urging her to return to direction.
The filmmaker said she might start working on a new film by the end of the year. However, she made it clear that she would only take up the project if it stars Shah Rukh Khan.
“If I direct again it will be with Shah Rukh. Otherwise, I’m happy continuing with YouTube” she said.