Akshaye Khanna To Make Big Debut In Telugu Industry With Mahakali Post Dhurandhar Success; Here's What We Know

Akshaye Khanna is stepping into Telugu cinema with Mahakali, a large-scale mythological film that is already sparking attention among fans. The project marks Akshaye Khanna's Tollywood debut and places the actor in a key role within director Prasanth Varma's expanding cinematic universe. In Mahakali, Akshaye Khanna is cast as Asuraguru Shukracharya, a powerful and complex figure from mythology. The film is directed by Puja Kolluru and is linked to Prasanth Varma's larger interconnected universe of mythological stories. Mahakali is reportedly slated to hit cinemas in the first half of 2026.

Akshaye Khanna Mahakali: first look, cast and release plans

Mahakali features Bhoomi Shetty as the female lead, sharing the screen with Akshaye Khanna in a pivotal role. Akshaye Khanna's first look as Shukracharya has already surfaced on social media. In the image, Akshaye Khanna appears with a long white beard and an intense expression, highlighting the character's imposing presence.

The menacing styling and body language in Akshaye Khanna's Mahakali look have drawn strong reactions online. Many viewers feel the appearance suits the character of a formidable guru. This response has built further interest around Mahakali, even before a full trailer or detailed plot reveal.

Akshaye Khanna Mahakali: connection with Dhurandhar and recent success

Mahakali arrives soon after Akshaye Khanna's widely praised turn in Dhurandhar, where Akshaye Khanna played Rehman Dakait opposite Ranveer Singh. The performance is being counted among Akshaye Khanna's strongest roles. Akshaye Khanna's dance moves in the FA9LA song also went viral and boosted Akshaye Khanna's popularity.

The buzz around Dhurandhar has helped Mahakali gain extra attention, as fans track Akshaye Khanna's next choices. There is already talk of Dhurandhar Part 2, where Akshaye Khanna is expected to appear in flashback portions. However, no formal details about Akshaye Khanna's extended role have been revealed by the makers.

After Dhurandhar's box-office and social media impact, many Hindi filmmakers reportedly approached Akshaye Khanna with fresh scripts. Despite this, Akshaye Khanna has not confirmed any new Hindi film officially. At present, Akshaye Khanna is focused on shooting Mahakali, while remaining selective about signing further projects.

Akshaye Khanna Mahakali: other films and career updates

If industry reports prove accurate, Akshaye Khanna will also appear in Border 2 in a cameo role. Akshaye Khanna, however, has stepped away from Drishyam 3, scheduled for release on 2 October 2026. In Drishyam 2, Akshaye Khanna portrayed an investigating officer opposite Ajay Devgn.

Recent years have seen a fresh phase in Akshaye Khanna's career. In 2025, Akshaye Khanna's portrayal of Aurangzeb in Vicky Kaushal's Chhaava was widely appreciated by fans. Combined with Dhurandhar and the upcoming Mahakali, these projects have kept Akshaye Khanna in steady discussion among Hindi and Telugu audiences.

The following table summarises Akshaye Khanna's key recent and upcoming films mentioned in relation to Mahakali:

Film	Role	Language	Release timeline
Dhurandhar	Rehman Dakait	Hindi	Released before 2026
Mahakali	Asuraguru Shukracharya	Telugu	First half of 2026 (reported)
Border 2	Cameo appearance (reported)	Hindi	Yet to be announced
Drishyam 3	Not part of cast	Hindi	2 October 2026
Chhaava	Aurangzeb	Hindi	Released in 2025

With Mahakali, Dhurandhar's impact, and memorable work in Chhaava, Akshaye Khanna remains a strong presence on the big screen. Fans now wait for further announcements about Akshaye Khanna's Hindi and Telugu projects, while Mahakali stands as the next major release on Akshaye Khanna's schedule.