Name: Akshaye Khanna
Profession: Actor
Born: March 28, 1975 (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)
Nationality: Indian
Known for: Border, Dil Chahta Hai, Humraaz, Race, Drishyam 2, Chhaava
Biography:
Akshaye Khanna was born into Bollywood royalty on March 28, 1975, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, to legendary actor and politician Vinod Khanna and former model Geetanjali Taleyarkhan.
Growing up in a fractured family environment when his father Vinod Khanna left to pursue spiritual awakening with Osho Rajneesh in the early 1980s, Akshaye experienced the challenges of being in the spotlight while dealing with personal struggles.
Despite the early turbulence in his family life, Akshaye found his calling in acting. He completed his schooling at Bombay International School and later attended Lawrence School in Lovedale, Ooty.
After graduating from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai, he honed his craft at the Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute before making his debut.
Akshaye made his acting debut in 1997 with Himalay Putra, a film produced by his father Vinod Khanna. While the film didn’t perform well commercially, it earned him the Screen Award for Best Male Debut.
His breakthrough came later that year with J.P. Dutta’s war drama Border, where he portrayed the real-life character of 2nd Lt. Dharamvir Singh Bhan. The film became the second highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1997 and earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut.
The late 1990s proved challenging for Akshaye with a series of unsuccessful films including Mohabbat (1997), Kudrat (1998), and Laawaris (1999). However, his career took a significant turn with Subhash Ghai’s musical romantic drama Taal (1999), opposite Aishwarya Rai, which became a critical and commercial success.
The defining moment of Akshaye’s career came with Farhan Akhtar’s Dil Chahta Hai (2001), where he played Siddharth “Sid” Sinha, a sensitive artist who falls in love with an older woman.
His nuanced performance earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor and established him as a versatile actor capable of handling complex characters. The film became a cult classic and marked a turning point in his career.
Akshaye then ventured into negative roles with Abbas-Mustan’s Humraaz (2002), playing the convincing con-artist Karan Malhotra. His performance earned critical acclaim and the IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role. He continued exploring diverse genres with the psychological thriller Deewangee (2002) and comedies like Hungama (2003) and Hulchul (2004).
After a series of moderate successes and failures in the mid-2000s, Akshaye delivered another memorable performance in Gandhi, My Father (2007), portraying Harilal Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s eldest son. This critically acclaimed biographical drama is widely considered one of his finest performances. He followed this with Race (2008), where his negative role as the alcoholic Rajiv Singh earned him Best Villain awards at IIFA and Screen Awards.
Following the lukewarm reception of films like Tees Maar Khan (2010) and Gali Gali Chor Hai (2012), Akshaye took a four-year sabbatical from acting. He made his comeback in 2016 with Dishoom, followed by impressive performances in Mom (2017) and Ittefaq (2017).
Recent years have seen Akshaye’s career resurgence with critically acclaimed performances in Section 375 (2019) as a defense lawyer and Drishyam 2 (2022) as IG Tarun Ahlawat. His portrayal of the sharp, determined police officer in Drishyam 2 was particularly praised, with critics noting his scene-stealing presence.
In 2025, Akshaye portrayed Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Chhaava, starring opposite Vicky Kaushal. His menacing portrayal of the historical figure has been widely appreciated, with the film emerging as one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time and becoming his highest-grossing release.
Known for his selective approach to films and his preference for quality over quantity, Akshaye remains one of Bollywood’s most respected actors. His decision to maintain a low public profile, avoiding social media and limiting media appearances, has only added to his mystique as a serious performer dedicated to his craft.
Awards and Accolades
Filmfare Awards:
- Best Male Debut for Border (1998)
- Best Supporting Actor for Dil Chahta Hai (2002)
IIFA Awards:
- Best Performance in a Negative Role for Humraaz (2003)
- Best Performance in a Negative Role for Race (2009)
Screen Awards:
- Most Promising Newcomer – Male for Himalay Putra & Border (1998)
- Special Jury Award for Dil Chahta Hai (2002)
- Best Villain for Race (2009)
Interesting Facts
- Akshaye has remained unmarried by choice, stating that he is not “marriage material” and prefers full control over his life
- He was reportedly close to marrying Karisma Kapoor in the 1990s, but the wedding was called off due to concerns about his career prospects
- Despite being from a film family, he has maintained one of the lowest profiles in Bollywood, rarely appearing at parties or award functions
- He owns a farmhouse in Alibaug where he spends considerable time away from the limelight
