Actor Akshay Kumar, who faced criticism for his interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the 2019 general elections, has defended his decision and said that he wanted to know the PM’s human side. He also rejected the accusations of making partisan cinema and being pitted against other actors such as Shah Rukh Khan.

Akshay Kumar on interviewing Modi

In an interview with India Today, Akshay said that he was offered a chance to interview the PM and he grabbed it without any hesitation. “Anybody would’ve grabbed the opportunity had they been offered it,” he said. He added that he was not interested in asking about the PM’s policies, but rather about his personal life and preferences. “I wanted to know why he wears a watch upside-down. I wanted to ask him how much money he has in the bank. I’m not going to ask him about policies,” he said.

He also clarified that he did not receive any directives from the Prime Minister’s Office about what questions to ask or avoid. He said that he had complete freedom and did not even have a paper in his hand. He also revealed that he told a joke to the PM during the interview.

Akshay’s interview with the PM had sparked a controversy as many people accused him of being a ‘Modi bhakt’ and promoting the BJP’s agenda through his films. Some of his films, such as Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Padman, were seen as aligned with the government’s initiatives such as Swachh Bharat and menstrual hygiene.

However, Akshay denied these allegations and said that he has also made films that were set during the Congress era, such as Airlift and Mission Raniganj. He said that people only notice what suits their narrative and ignore the rest. He also said that he is not into politics and does not have any affiliation with any party.

Akshay Kumar on making films promoting BJP Agenda

In another interview with Times Now, Akshay was asked about the tag of ‘Modi bhakt’ that has been given to him by his detractors. Akshay said that he isn’t ‘into politics’, and that he has made films about different subjects. “It’s true. Some people accuse me of promoting Swachh Bharat through Toilet: Ek Prem Katha; I also made Padman. But nobody notices that I made Airlift, which was set during the Congress era. Even Mission Raniganj is set during the Congress era. But nobody is pointing that out. They only say these things when it’s convenient for their narrative.”

Akshay Kumar on ideology comparisons with Shah Rukh Khan

Akshay also addressed the social media narratives that compare him with other actors, especially Shah Rukh Khan, who is often perceived as having a different ideology from him. Akshay said that these comparisons are baseless and ridiculous, and that he does not pay attention to them. “The best thing to do is to laugh it off and move on,” he said.

Akshay’s latest film, Mission Raniganj: A Great Bharat Rescue, which is based on a true story of an Indian diplomat rescuing 170 Indians from a war-torn country, has released in theatres on Friday. The film has received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, and has not been able to match expectations at the box office.

They both last shared screen space since Dil To Pagal Hai in 1997. While Akshay has several upcoming projects like Bade Miyan Chote Miya, Sky Force; Shah Rukh will be seen next in Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki.