Akshaye Khanna

Akshaye Khanna Biography

Akshaye Vinod Khanna (born 28 March 1975) is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Hindi films. He has appeared in over 40 films across a career beginning in 1997 and has received two Filmfare Awards. He is widely regarded for restrained, character-driven performances, particularly in negative and morally ambiguous roles.

Khanna was born in Mumbai to the actor and politician Vinod Khanna, who died in 2017, and Geetanjali Talyarkhan, who died in 2018; the actor Rahul Khanna is his elder brother and the cricket commentator A. F. S. Talyarkhan was his maternal grandfather. He studied at Bombay International School and completed his 11th and 12th at Lawrence School, Lovedale, in Ooty. He has never married and does not use personal social media.

After his debut in Himalay Putra (1997), Border the same year brought him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. Dil Chahta Hai (2001) won him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. Following a hiatus after 2012 he returned with Dishoom (2016), and drew renewed acclaim for Section 375 (2019) and Drishyam 2 (2022). In 2025 he played Aurangzeb in Chhaava and the Karachi gangster Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar — both among the highest-grossing Indian films ever made, with Dhurandhar his biggest hit.

Basic Details

• Full Name: Akshaye Vinod Khanna
• Profession: Actor
• Date of Birth: 28 March 1975
• Birthplace: Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India
• Nationality: Indian
• Years Active: 1997 – present
• Industry: Hindi cinema
• Father: Vinod Khanna, actor and politician (died 2017)
• Mother: Geetanjali Talyarkhan (died 2018)
• Brother: Rahul Khanna, actor (elder)
• Marital Status: Never married
• Education: Bombay International School, Babulnath; Lawrence School, Lovedale (Ooty)

Career Highlights

Awards

Khanna has received 15 wins from 23 nominations, including two Filmfare Awards.

• 1998: Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut — Border (Won); Screen Award, Most Promising Newcomer — Himalay Putra and Border (Won); Zee Cine Awards, Best Male Debut and Best Supporting Actor — Border (Won); Sansui Viewers’ Choice, Best Debut Actor — Himalay Putra (Won)
• 2002: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor — Dil Chahta Hai (Won); Screen Special Jury Award, BFJA Best Supporting Actor and Sansui Viewers’ Choice Best Supporting Actor for the same film (Won)
• 2003: IIFA Award for Best Villain — Humraaz (Won); Sansui Viewers’ Choice, Best Actor in a Negative Role — Humraaz (Won)
• 2009: IIFA Award and Screen Award for Best Villain — Race (Won)
• 2011: Stardust Award, Star of the Year — Actor — Tees Maar Khan (Won)
• 2026: Pinkvilla Screen and Style Icons Award for Best Villain and Screen Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role — Dhurandhar (Won)