Lesser-known facts about 'Dhurandhar' star Akshaye Khanna: the actor who almost married Karisma Kapoor and remained single at 50

Bollywood has always been home to immensely talented actors, many of whom rarely get the acknowledgement they deserve. Among these gifted artists is Akshaye Khanna, a performer known for his intensity, honesty, and effortless screen presence. Though he is the son of the legendary Vinod Khanna, Akshaye successfully built his own identity in the film industry. His journey began in 1997 with ‘Himalay Putra,’ followed by a remarkable performance in J.P. Dutta’s ‘Border’ the same year, which earned him widespread appreciation despite the film’s star-studded cast. While his professional milestones are well-known, there are several lesser-known facts about Akshaye that remain unfamiliar to many.

Interestingly, very few people are aware that Akshaye Khanna once had a deep admiration for Aishwarya Rai. The actor was quite taken by her grace and beauty while sharing screen space with her in ‘Aa Ab Laut Chalen’ and later in ‘Taal.’ During the promotions of his film ‘Ittefaq,’ Akshaye appeared on Karan Johar’s talk show, where he was asked to name the most attractive woman in Bollywood. Without missing a beat, he mentioned Aishwarya Rai and said, “I can't take my eyes off her every time I meet her. It's embarrassing for men. She must be used to it (people staring at her). But I'm not used to not being able to take my eyes off somebody. You just keep staring at her like a lunatic.”

Akshaye Khanna’s personal life has often been a topic of interest in the media. Over the years, several reports have linked him romantically with actresses Tara Sharma and Riya Sen. Reported in Bollywood Shadi.com, in a past interview, Akshaye even made headlines when he revealed that he would have liked to date the late Jayalalithaa, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

There was a time when Akshaye Khanna and Karisma Kapoor were said to be deeply in love, with marriage almost on the horizon. After parting ways with Ajay Devgn, Karisma reportedly grew close to Akshaye, finding comfort and companionship in him. Their bond soon turned romantic, and Randhir Kapoor was also said to have supported their relationship, even proposing the match to Vinod Khanna. However, things took a different turn when Babita, Karisma’s mother, reportedly stepped in and discouraged the marriage, believing her daughter’s career was at a crucial stage, according to Bollywood Shadi.com. True to his private nature, Akshaye never spoke about his equation or breakup with Karisma, choosing to keep that chapter of his life away from public attention.

Akshaye Khanna, who earned the ‘Best Debut Male’ award for his performance in Border, remains single at 49. Over the years, he has openly admitted in interviews that he’s commitment-phobic and has grown increasingly cautious about relationships. The actor has often shared that he deeply values his solitude and that even the idea of being in a relationship makes him uneasy. In a conversation with the Hindustan Times, when asked why he has chosen to stay unmarried, Akshaye offered a thoughtful explanation, saying, "I don’t see myself (getting married); I’m not marriage material, as they say. I’m not cut out for that kind of… (we ask if it’s commitment)… not that, but that kind of life. It’s a commitment, but a drastic lifestyle change. Marriage changes everything. I want full control over my life. When you share your life with somebody else, you can’t have full control. You have to give a lot of control away. You share each other’s lives."