What inspired Akshaye Khanna’s viral FA9LA costume in Dhurandhar? Know here

Akshaye Khanna has been in the limelight since the release of Dhurandhar on December 5, with his role as Rehman Dakait emerging as a major highlight. The song 'FA9LA' in particular has gone viral for its striking all-black outfit, which mixes cultural influences with modern tailoring. As interest in this look grows, costume designer Smriti Chauhan has shared insights into the inspiration and design process behind Khanna's extraordinary look.

How did Akshaye Khanna's Rehman Dakait look go viral?

Speaking to India Today, costume designer Smriti Chauhan broke down the cultural influences and fabric choices that went into Akshaye Khanna’s viral FA9LA look. She said, "We wanted to give this sequence ('FA9LA') a completely black look so that it would attract everyone's attention. Akshay in black and the rest of the dancers in white."

To make Akshaye's presence more evident in the scene, a white turban was worn with a black dress. She said, "We chose white because black and white create a special sparkle. This makes him stand out from the rest." The sharp contrast helped to distinguish the main character from the co-dancers and emphasised his prominence in the series.

"Taking Akshaye's height into account, we chose a semi-Balochi salwar. He didn't opt for a full Balochi salwar made from 15-20 meters of fabric. Instead, a salwar was made using 6 meters of fabric," Chauhan shared. 

Smriti Chauhan also noted that the choice of materials and tailoring details was crucial in finalising Akshaye Khanna’s look. She mentioned that the Pathani was made of a silk-wool blend and had a slim-fit Chinese collar kurta with double-lined leather patches on the cuffs and pockets.

"While sourcing the look for Rehman, we saw beautiful Nehru jackets. But I wanted Rehman to wear something heavy. We finalised a bandhgala coat with a pashmina stole," she shared. 

Also Read: Akshaye Khanna 'lives in his own world, doesn't care about anybody', says Arshad Warsi amid Drishyam 3 exit controversy

How much was Akshaye Khanna paid for Dhurandhar?

Akshaye Khanna portrayed Rehman Dakait, a formidable gangster, and is said to have earned between Rs 1 and 3 crore, reportedly nearly ten times less than Ranveer Singh. Meanwhile, Ranveer reportedly earned Rs. 30-50 crore. 

Dhurandhar FAQs

Q: What is the box office collection of Dhurandhar?

A: Dhurandhar has collected Rs. 777 crore after 32 days at the domestic box office, as per Sacnilk. 

Q: When is the Dhurandhar OTT release date?

A: The tentative OTT streaming release date for Dhurandhar on Netflix is January 30, 2026, as per the 8-week window rule after the theatrical run.