Mukesh Khanna lashes out at Akshay Kumar's portrayal of Prithviraj Chauhan, says, "Aap chamde ke joote pehen rahe ho, wig laga diya aur director..."

Mukesh and Akshay

In 2022, Akshay Kumar took on the iconic role of Prithviraj Chauhan, the legendary warrior king, in the historical drama Samrat Prithviraj. Directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, the film aimed to bring the valiant tale of the Rajput king to life on screen. While the movie received praise for its grand scale and historical accuracy, there was some criticism surrounding the portrayal of Prithviraj, particularly regarding Akshay Kumar's appearance and how it aligned with the expectations of such a historically significant figure.

Mukesh Khanna, the veteran actor best known for his portrayal of Shaktimaan, shared his thoughts on Akshay's portrayal of the historical figure during an interview with Pinkvilla’s Hindi Rush. He stressed the importance of physical appearance and authenticity when playing such monumental roles.

Mukesh stated, “Ram, Krishna, even Shaktimaan, maine daal diya uske beech mein (Ram, Krishna, even Shaktimaan I’ll put in the mix—they are cult characters. You cannot change the appearance). Aap chamde ke joote pehen rahe ho woh toh dharmik baat nikli (You are wearing leather shoes; that becomes a religious issue),” emphasizing that characters of such stature demand a certain level of reverence in their depiction. He further critiqued the casual approach to iconic figures, noting that liberties taken with their portrayal could lead to public outcry. "Hanuman ka yeh bolna, 'Arre tere baap ka tel jalega mere baap ki lanka jalegi' (Hanuman saying, 'Hey, your father's oil will burn; my father's Lanka will burn') — It is taking liberty, and public khadi ho gayi (stood up in protest)."

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In his critique of Akshay Kumar's performance, Mukesh said, “Jo bhi actor aaye kam se kam khada ho toh lage Prithviraj Chauhan hai (Whoever plays the role should at least look like Prithviraj Chauhan when they stand). Akshay saab khade hue logon ne Prithviraj Chauhan nahi samjha usko kyunki (When Akshay sir stood, people didn’t see him as Prithviraj Chauhan because) he did not take care.” He highlighted that despite Akshay’s acting skills, the portrayal lacked a certain physical presence that would help the audience truly connect with the character of Prithviraj Chauhan.

Mukesh, not one to mince words, also recalled a conversation he had with the film's director, Chandraprakash Dwivedi, where he questioned the decision behind Akshay Kumar’s look in the film. “Maine toh unke director ko bhi yaha bitha ke interview le chuka hun main Chandraprakash ji ka. Maine bola, 'Aisa kyun kiya aapne? Wig laga diya, aise ek mooch rakh di, aur woh Akshay Akshay lag raha hai' (I have also interviewed director Chandraprakash ji. I said, 'Why did you do that? You put on a wig like this, you kept a mustache, and Akshay looked like Akshay').” For Khanna, the actor's appearance failed to evoke the regal essence of Prithviraj Chauhan.

Mukesh concluded by pointing out the significance of embodying the character physically. He said, “Prithviraj Chauhan ka ek gait hota hai, woh khada ho toh Prithviraj Chauhan lage. Uske liye mehnat karni padti hai (Prithviraj Chauhan has a gait; the actor should look like Prithviraj Chauhan when he stands up. One has to work hard for it).” He stressed that a portrayal of such an iconic figure requires dedication and effort, especially in terms of how the character carries themselves, rather than relying solely on wigs or costumes.