Akshaye Khanna

Akshaye Khanna (born 28 March 1975) is an Indian film actor. He made his acting debut in the year 1997 with Himalay Putra which was produced by his father Vinod Khanna. Since then he has been featured in several critically and commercially acclaimed films. Akshaye has been a recipient of Filmfare Awards twice. His most popular films include Border (1997), Taal (1999), Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Hulchul (2004), Race (2008) among others. He was critically acclaimed for his performance in Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Humraaz (2002) and Gandhi, My Father (2007).

Akshaye Khanna had a four year long gap from his acting career (after Gali Gali Chor Hai). He has returned in 2016 as an antagonistic character in the film Dishoom.

Akshaye Khanna was born on 28 March 1975 in Mumbai. He is the second son of Bollywood actor and politician Vinod Khanna, and the younger brother of actor Rahul Khanna. Both brothers are also members of Willingdon Sports Club.

After studying in Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute in Mumbai, Khanna made his acting debut in Bollywood in 1997 with the movie Himalay Putra, which was produced by his father and went without much success at box office. His performance in his next release, J. P. Dutta-directed Border (1997), earned him the Filmfare Best Debut Award and a nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1998. After that a string of unsuccessful films followed such as Mohabbat (1997), Kudrat (1998), Laawaris (1999), Love You Hamesha (1999) and Dahek: A Burning Passion (1999).

In 1999, he starred in Rishi Kapoor's Aa Ab Laut Chalen; though the film did average business, he was praised for his acting. He next starred in Subhash Ghai's Taal opposite Aishwarya Rai. The film became a critical and commercial success.

In 2001, Khanna appeared in Farhan Akhtar's cult classic Dil Chahta Hai which turned out to be a turning point in his career; the film was a commercial and critical success and Khanna's performance was particularly applauded, later validated by Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2002. Dil Chahta Hai relaunched Akshaye Khanna and Saif Ali Khan's careers. In 2002, Khanna appeared in an Abbas-Mustan thriller Humraaz; his role as a convincing con-artist in this film earned him much critical acclaim and a nomination for a Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role. Khanna then plunged into the comedy genre with Priyadarshan’s Hungama (2002) and Hulchul (2004) that became box office hits.

After acting in a string of unsuccessful and lukewarm box-office films like Shaadi Se Pehle (2006), Aap Ki Khatir (2006), Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love (2007), Mere Baap Pehle Aap (2008), Gandhi, My Father (2007), and Naqaab (2007), Khanna appeared in the 2008 release Race. The Abbas-Mustan thriller was the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood film in 2008 and Khanna's performance in a negative role brought him awards in the Best Villain category. However, Khanna’s portrayal of Harilal Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's eldest son, in the critically acclaimed 2007 film Gandhi, My Father is unanimously acknowledged his best performance yet as an actor.

In 2010, he starred in Anees Bazmee's No Problem with Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut. Khanna's later releases did not fare well at the box office, but his performances in Aakrosh (2010) and Tees Maar Khan (2010) were well-received by critics and audience.

After a four year hiatus, Khanna has made his comeback in the film Dishoom.

Awards and nominations :

Year Award Category Film Result

1998 Filmfare Awards Best Debut - Male Border Won

1998 Filmfare Awards Best Supporting Actor Border Nominated

1998 Screen Awards Most promising Newcomer - Male Himalay Putra Won

2002 Filmfare Awards Best Supporting Actor Dil Chahta Hai Won

2002 Screen Awards Special Jury Award Dil Chahta Hai Won

2002 Screen Awards Best Supporting Actor Dil Chahta Hai Nominated

2002 Zee Cine Awards Best Supporting Actor - Male Dil Chahta Hai Nominated

2003 Screen Awards Best Actor  Deewangee Nominated

2003 Filmfare Awards Best Negative Role Humraaz Nominated

2003 Screen Awards Best Villain Humraaz Nominated

2003 Zee Cine Awards Best Actor in Negative Role Humraaz Nominated

2003 IIFA Awards Best Villain Humraaz Won

2007 Australian Indian Film Festival Best Performance Award Gandhi, My Father Won

2007 Screen Awards Best Actor Gandhi, My Father Nominated

2009 Screen Awards Best Villain Race Won

2009 IIFA Awards Best Villain Race Won

Akshaye Khanna's Filmography with Super Star Rajesh Khanna :

1999 - Aa Ab Laut Chalen : as  Rohan Khanna