Rumy Jafry on his buddy Akshaye Khanna’s success in 2025, “He can sign 2 dozen films and make a fortune right now, but that isn’t Akshaye”

By Subhash K. Jha -

December 14, 2025 - 3:11 PM IST

2025’s hottest Bollywood star Akshaye Khanna doesn’t forget those who stood by him during his darkest times. One of those was writer-director Rumy Jafry. A close friend of Khanna, Jafry cast the actor in Gali Gali Chor Hai in 2012 at a time when the Dhurandhar actor’s career was at its lowest ebb.

Rumy Jafry on his buddy Akshaye Khanna’s success in 2025, “He can sign 2 dozen films and make a fortune right now, but that isn’t Akshaye”

Jafry has another script ready for Akshaye Khanna for the last five years.

“Suddenly everyone wants to see more of Akshaye on screen. But he is not the kind of actor who would grab offers just for money. By the grace of God, he lives comfortable irrespective of the work coming his way,” revealed Jafry, and added that his film offer to Akshaye Khanna is now re-activated.

“Akshaye is flooded with offers. But he is not biting the bait. He worked sparingly before 2025. He will work sparingly after Chhaava and Dhurandhar,” said Rumy.

Added Rumy, “Look at the ways of fate! This is the same super-talented Akshaye Khanna. He has not changed one bit after his recent super-success. Woh nahin badla, logon ke nazariya badal gaya (he hasn’t changed, people’s perception has changed). He has put in the same level of intensity and commitment in Chhaava and Dhurandhar as he did in Gali Gali Chor Hai. But at that point of time, Akshaye was going through a bad phase.”

What brought on the lean phase? The hair loss?

Said Rumy, “Yes to an extent. He refused to wear a wig. He said, ‘This is the way I am, take it or leave it.’ He lost all the roles of the leading man because of the hair loss. But more than that, it is his honest approach to people and his work that slowed him down. He won’t work with people he doesn’t like even if they offer him a 100 crores. Pasand ya napasand uske chehre pe saaf dikhta hai (whether he likes or dislikes someone it clearly shows on his face). Like I said, Akshaye won’t change. If he wants, he can sign two dozen films and make a large fortune right now. Give a million interviews. But that isn’t Akshaye Khanna.”

Also Read: Trade experts hail Akshaye Khanna’s performance in Dhurandhar: “He’s like a single malt – the older he gets, the better he tastes!”