Overview
- Akshay Kumar addressed years of criticism in a podcast posted on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel, saying the moustache required for the role could not grow naturally on his face and adding, “If people didn’t like it, then I am sorry.”
- He said he does change his look for roles but tight schedules limit long breaks, noting it took six weeks to grow a recent beard and that productions sometimes rely on prosthetics when exact styles are not feasible.
- Samrat Prithviraj released on June 3, 2022, drew heavy scrutiny of Kumar’s resemblance to the king, and was directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi for Yash Raj Films with reports citing a ₹175 crore budget and about ₹90 crore worldwide gross.
- Recent coverage also highlighted veteran actor Mukesh Khanna’s view that Kumar did not look like Prithviraj Chauhan, reinforcing a focus on visual authenticity beyond performance.
- The renewed discussion shows how details like facial hair, wigs, and makeup can shape audience trust in historical dramas and can influence a film’s reputation long after release.