Akshay Kumar has finally responded to the criticism surrounding his look in Samrat Prithviraj, particularly the much-discussed fake moustache that drew attention when the film released in 2022.

At the time, many viewers questioned the authenticity of his appearance as the legendary king Prithviraj Chauhan. The historical drama faced backlash from sections of the audience who expected a more natural and convincing portrayal.

Akshay Kumar’s Clarification

Speaking on a podcast shared on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel, Akshay has addressed the issue and clarified that the decision was not due to a lack of effort on his part. 

“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 said.

The actor went on to explain that the specific moustache style required for Samrat Prithviraj was not something he could grow naturally, which led to the use of a prosthetic.

“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,” he added.

About The Film

Released on June 3, 2022, Samrat Prithviraj featured Akshay Kumar in the lead role alongside Manushi Chhillar, Sanjay Dutt, and Sonu Sood. The film, backed by Yash Raj Films, was based on the life of the renowned warrior king.

ALSO READ: Box Office: Akshay Kumar’s Bhooth Bangla, With Rs 117.71 Crore, Is Steady Amid Dhurandhar 2 Frenzy

New Delhi:

Hansika Motwani has been in the news owing to her divorce from Sohail Khaturiya, but she recently faced severe backlash for her comment on the casting couch.

What’s Happening

• In a new interview with Hauterfly, Hansika Motwani was asked if she had ever dealt with casting couch experiences in the film industry, considering she has been working in this profession since childhood.
• She said, “Mujhe pata hai kya lagta hai jisko kaam karna hai na asli kaam, unke sath yeh sab hota nahi hoga. Kyunki mere sath touchwood yeh sab nahi hua (I feel that if someone truly wants to work and focus on real work, these things probably don’t happen to them). Honestly, I can’t give a comment on this because I don’t know.”
• Her response did not sit well with the internet, which responded strongly.

Internet Reactions

Reddit exploded with some harsh comments, calling out Hansika Motwani for being “tone-deaf.”

One person wrote, “Asli kaam??? She’s not been in a decent project for ages. The last memorable thing of hers I remember is that awful marriage show. Why are people interviewing her in the first place?”

Someone else said, “She sounds illiterate. Real work is marrying your best friend’s ex-husband, yes!”

Another user wrote, “Good that the interviewer stood his ground.”

Other comments read, “Arrogant, tone deaf” and “What an irresponsible answer… says a lot about her.”

No wonder she slept with her bestie’s husband and later married him ……even the interviewer was caught off guard by her ans 🥀
by u/jellyous_001 in KollyGossips

About The Divorce

Hansika Motwani has been trending mostly because of her recent divorce with husband Sohael Khaturiya. They had a lavish wedding at Mundota Fort and Palace in Jaipur in December 2022. However their marriage did not last, and they were granted a divorce by a family court in Mumbai’s Bandra suburb by mutual consent on March 11.

 Hansika Motwani’s lawyer said that she didn’t ask for any alimony from her former husband.

“It is pertinent to clarify that our client has made no claims whatsoever for alimony or maintenance, as her sole intention was to bring a dignified and peaceful closure to the marriage. The reasons for the breakdown of the relationship were placed before the Hon’ble Court in the petition. Our client now wishes to move forward with her life and professional commitments,” lawyer Adnan Shaikh told NDTV.

Hansika Motwani is known for films such as Aap Kaa Surroor, Oru Kal Oru Kannadi, and My Name Is Shruthi.

ALSO READ | Hansika Motwani Reveals How Family Was Her “Pillar” Of Strength After Divorce From Sohael Khaturiya

As a huge fan of the original novel, I knew I just had to see the film; although, having seen some reviews ahead of time, I was rather sceptical. I was a little shocked, though, as the film actually ended up being worse than I had predicted – and felt more like bad fan-fiction than an adaptation of Emily Brontë‘s writing. From bizarre casting, to out-of-character storylines and cutting out half of the story, the film was ultimately rather disappointing.

And while there are certainly plenty of other bad adaptations of Wuthering Heights out there (MTV’s version, anyone?), there are some that are actually quite good.

One that has remained popular since its release, at least among fans of the Brontës, is the 2009 mini-series starring Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley as Heathcliff and Cathy – a pairing whose chemistry was so good that they’ve since married in real life and welcomed two children together.

True to the story, however, the pair’s on-screen counterparts didn’t quite get a happy ending. Unlike the 2026 adaptation, and many others too, the 2009 version opted against stopping halfway through the story.

While the 2009 mini-series isn’t without its issues, Heathcliff being white-washed being one inaccuracy that both adaptations are guilty of, the heart of the story itself is still there.

And I’m not the only one who’s a fan of the 2009 adaptation, taking to IMDb, one fan wrote: “I am a confessed middle-aged Wuthering Heights tragic – have studied the book at at university level, read it many times, and seen all of the major movie and TV versions – I consider this film version to be the best I have seen.

“Though it departs from the plot a number of times it still comes closest to the the themes and tone of Emily Brontë’s work.”

While another added: “I wasn’t expecting to like this version because I actually dislike all the other adaptations, but my, God! This is absolutely fantastic! It’s the sexiest and most entertaining Wuthering Heights I’ve seen. I’ve watched this film over 10 times. I love it to pieces.

“I thought it was superbly cast and the characters are so perfectly portrayed. Tom Hardy as Heathcliff was just… magnificent. He nailed that psychotic, bad boy role like no other. I found myself loving and hating him all at once.

“Now I can’t imagine anyone else playing it. He’s a fantastic actor. I wish more people knew of him in the States! Also the music in this version is so beautiful.”