‘He Just Walked In And Danced’: Vijay Ganguly Reveals How Akshaye Khanna’s Viral Dhurandhar Scene Was Shot

Long before Fa9la became the most replayed sequence from Dhurandhar, it was just another scene on paper — a character stepping into power. What no one anticipated was how that entry would explode into a cultural moment, driven less by choreography and more by instinct. According to choreographer Vijay Ganguly, the now-iconic sequence was also one of the most effortless they filmed.

“He’s a Very Quiet Person”: Inside Akshaye Khanna’s Process

Vijay Ganguly, who choreographed the sequence, recalls that working with Akshaye Khanna is unlike working with most actors. There are no loud rehearsals or constant discussions — just focus.

“He’s a very quiet person,” Vijay told NDTV. “So the interaction with him is mostly about explaining what is happening

in the shot. It’s about highs and byes. But once he’s in the middle of a take, he’s completely in his zone.”

According to Vijay, Akshaye never disengages between shots, “He doesn’t go to the van, he doesn’t wander around. He’s always in character.”

That discipline, he says, sets the tone for the entire set, “When the shot is ready, he’s ready. You really see how seriously he takes his work. It’s amazing to see someone so committed.”

The Dance That Was Never Planned

The Fa9la sequence was conceptualised as a powerful coronation moment — Akshaye’s character enters, absorbs the atmosphere, and is ceremonially seated as a turban is placed on his head. The dance, however, was never part of the plan.

Moments before the camera rolled, Akshaye made a simple suggestion, “Akshaye told Aditya sir that when I enter, I am going to dance,” Vijay recalled.

What followed was entirely instinctive. Akshaye observed the background dancers, absorbed the rhythm, and let the moment guide him, “Then the camera rolled, and he did what you see in the video. That was one take. That’s it.”

The team watched the playback and immediately knew they had their shot. The entire sequence was completed in under two hours, “It was all impromptu. Everything was last minute. We honestly never expected it to become this big.”

“I Still Can’t Digest That Fa9la Is a Hit”

The irony, Vijay admits, is that the most talked-about sequence required the least effort, “I still can’t digest that Fa9la is a hit,” he said candidly. “It’s literally a scene where he enters, sits, and gets coronated.”

Yet that simplicity is precisely what resonated, “That piece has gone so viral that I’m getting calls and congratulations constantly. And that was the most effortless thing we did.”

For Vijay, the moment reaffirmed his belief in honesty over excess, “Some things are just meant to work. You just have to be honest with what you’re doing and stay true to the story.”

Shooting Fa9la In Ladakh Came With Real Risks

While the sequence may look effortless on screen, filming in Ladakh posed serious physical challenges. The crew arrived days early to acclimatise to the low oxygen levels. Akshaye reached just a day before his shoot and completed the sequence without visible difficulty.

Later, however, concerns arose when his oxygen levels dipped, “We were told we might have to shoot some additional song bits while he rested,” Vijay recalled.

What happened next stunned the unit, “And while we were discussing this, we suddenly saw his car coming onto the set.”

Akshaye stepped out wearing an oxygen mask, carrying a small cylinder — and walked straight into position, “He didn’t wait, didn’t complain, didn’t say a word. He just came and did his bit perfectly. No flinching, no excuses.”

“He Just Didn’t Want Anyone’s Effort To Go to Waste”

For Vijay and the crew, that moment defined Akshaye Khanna’s work ethic, “Hundreds of people are on set, everyone is giving their time. He just wanted to make sure nobody’s effort went to waste.”

The experience left a lasting impression, “That kind of passion teaches you so much.”

A Quiet Hit That No One Saw Coming

The runaway success of Fa9la surprised even its makers. Shot without overthinking, driven by instinct, and anchored by Akshaye Khanna’s unwavering focus, the sequence stands as proof that not every iconic moment is meticulously planned.

Some, as Fa9la shows, are born in silence — shaped by trust, restraint, and an actor who never steps out of his zone.