Akshay Kumar reacts to criticism over Samrat Prithviraj's fake moustache

Akshay Kumar has addressed the criticism he faced for sporting a fake moustache in Samrat Prithviraj, clarifying that the decision was driven by the character’s requirements and not a lack of effort on his part. The actor, who had drawn backlash in 2022 over the look in the historical drama, recently explained that the specific style needed for the role could not be grown naturally.

The release of Samrat Prithviraj led to viewers questioning the authenticity of Akshay’s appearance, particularly his moustache. The actor, who played the legendary king Prithviraj Chauhan, received negative feedback from viewers who expected a more authentic look for the historical portrayal.

Speaking on a podcast shared on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel, Akshay responded to questions about his commitment to roles and the debate around his appearance in the film.

“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.

He further explained the reasoning behind the controversial choice. “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.”

Released on June 3, 2022, Samrat Prithviraj was directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi and produced by Yash Raj Films. The film is based on the life of legendary warrior Prithviraj Chauhan. Along with Akshay Kumar, it also featured Manushi Chhillar, Sanjay Dutt and Sonu Sood in key roles.