Saumya Tandon revealed she actually slapped co-star Akshaye Khanna during a pivotal emotional scene in the spy thriller Dhurandhar after director Aditya Dhar insisted on authenticity.
Actress Saumya Tandon, widely known for her television work in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!, has disclosed that a pivotal emotional scene in the spy thriller Dhurandhar involved her genuinely slapping co-star Akshaye Khanna, and it wasn’t staged. The revelation came via behind-the-scenes photos and posts she shared on social media.
In the film, directed by Aditya Dhar, Tandon portrays the wife of Khanna’s character, Rehman Dakait. In an intense scene following the death of their on-screen son, Tandon’s character confronts Khanna’s character in grief and anger. According to the actress, Dhar encouraged an authentic reaction, and despite initially trying to “cheat” the moment, she followed his direction and delivered a real slap during the take, capturing raw emotion on camera.
Tandon posted a series of BTS images from the set and wrote that the emotional weight of the scene, fuelled by anger, desperation, and shared pain, stayed with her as the cameras rolled, and the moment was completed in one take. Akshaye Khanna, known for his seasoned performances, reportedly supported the choice and encouraged her to go for the real action.
She wrote, “1. This was my entry scene in the film, and the amount of love it has received has truly overwhelmed me. In this scene, I felt everything at once- anger towards my husband for being the reason behind our son’s death, helpless desperation, and the deep, shared pain between us. And yes, I slapped Akshay once-for real- during his close-up, after Aditya insisted it had to be authentic. I was hoping to cheat, but no such luck. My breakdown close-up was done in a single take.” Here is the post:
1. This was my entry scene in the film, and the amount of love it has received has truly overwhelmed me.
In this scene, I felt everything at once- anger towards my husband for being the reason behind our son’s death, helpless desperation, and the deep, shared pain between us.… pic.twitter.com/wXUsuIRdbR— Saumya Tandon (@saumyatandon) December 21, 2025
Since Dhurandhar’s release on December 5, 2025, the film has ignited conversation not only for its gripping narrative and ensemble cast, which includes Ranveer Singh and R. Madhavan, but also for its intense character interactions and immersive performances. Fans have praised Tandon’s dramatic shift from her comedic roots in the film.
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