Akshay Kumar has spoken about the criticism he faced for his look in Samrat Prithviraj, which was released in 2022. At the time, many viewers questioned his appearance in the historical drama, especially the use of a fake moustache. Now, four years later, the actor has shared his side of the story.
In a recent conversation with Shubhankar Mishra, Akshay addressed the issue and explained that the decision was not because he did not want to grow facial hair. He clarified that growing a specific type of moustache required for the role was not possible for him naturally. He said, “See, I’m working on lots of things, lots of films and lots of looks. Like right now, I have this beard. I took around six weeks to grow it, and during those six weeks, I didn’t work. So it’s not like that.”
He further explained the situation and added, “In Samrat Prithviraj, the story required a particular kind of moustache, and that kind of moustache cannot grow naturally on my face. So yes, maybe the fake moustache didn’t look good, maybe a lot of people didn’t like it. But at the end of the day, it’s acting. Growing that exact moustache might not be possible for me. But sometimes you have to do it. And if people didn’t like it, then I am sorry.”
The discussion around his look has continued over the years. Recently, Mukesh Khanna also commented on the issue, questioning whether the appearance suited the historical character. His remarks added to the ongoing conversation about how actors should prepare for such roles.
Samrat Prithviraj was directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi and also featured Manushi Chhillar, Sanjay Dutt, and Sonu Sood. Despite having a well known cast, the film did not perform well at the box office.
Through his recent comments, Akshay Kumar has tried to explain the creative choice behind his look and respond to the criticism in a straightforward way.