Akshaye Khanna has been enjoying renewed attention for his performances in recent years, but conversations around the actor have also brought back stories about his early years in the film industry. Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan has now opened up about her own experience of working with Khanna in the 1990s, admitting that she once found him so difficult to work with that she decided she did not want to choreograph his songs. However, their collaboration on ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ in 2001 changed her perception of the actor, with Farah later praising him as a “brilliant dancer” and saying he had undergone a transformation.
Farah Khan recalls working with Akshaye Khanna in the 1990s
During a recent conversation on choreographers Bosco and Caesar’s podcast Dance Masti, Farah Khan was asked which actor she had found the hardest to work with. The conversation initially revolved around Abhishek Bachchan, with Caesar recalling the actor’s playful and prankster side. Farah, however, eventually revealed that Akshaye Khanna was the actor she had found particularly difficult during the early phase of her career.“At one time, Akshaye Khanna used to be very difficult to work with,” she recalled.Farah said she had worked with Khanna on films including ‘Doli Saja Ke Rakhna’ and ‘Laawaris’, among other projects. Looking back at that period, she described the actor as “very irritable” and said he would sometimes be unwilling to stand during shoots.
‘I don’t want to choreograph it’: Farah on Akshaye Khanna’s songs
Farah admitted that her experiences with Khanna became frustrating enough for her to make a firm decision about future collaborations.“I said if it is Akshaye Khanna’s song, I don’t want to choreograph it,” she said.Her perspective, however, changed when she was required to work with Khanna again on ‘Dil Chahta Hai’. The 2001 film marked Farhan Akhtar’s directorial debut, and Farhan is Farah’s first cousin, making the project one she could not simply turn down.
How ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ changed Farah Khan’s opinion of Akshaye Khanna
Farah said she noticed a significant change in Khanna when they reunited for ‘Dil Chahta Hai’. According to her, the actor appeared much more relaxed and comfortable with himself by then.“After Dil Chahta Hai, he had a transformation, I think. In Tees Maar Khan, he was too good. He is actually a very good dancer,” Farah said.She also singled out Khanna’s performance in the popular song ‘Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe’, saying he danced better than his co-stars Aamir Khan and Saif Ali Khan.Farah has previously spoken about this change in her equation with Khanna as well, recalling that she initially avoided working with him but later felt that he had become much more relaxed.
Farah Khan says she prefers a positive set environment
Farah also stressed that the atmosphere on a film set matters to her and that she does not want to work with artists whose behaviour makes the working environment uncomfortable.“But I was very clear that I don’t want to work with artists who are irritating,” she said.
Akshaye Khanna’s recent work and ‘Drishyam 3 ’ controversy
Khanna has remained in the spotlight following praise for his recent performances. At the same time, reports around his alleged exit from ‘Drishyam 3’ have generated further discussion about the actor. According to reports, the makers were said to have issued him a legal notice following his departure from the project, with reported disagreements involving his look and remuneration.
