Akshay Kumar to make Telugu cinema debut with 'Kannappa'

At a press event for his upcoming film Kesari Chapter 2, Akshay Kumar was asked about recent remarks made by veteran actor and politician Jaya Bachchan, who criticised the title of his 2017 movie Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. Jaya Bachchan had dismissed the film during a public interaction, saying she would never watch a movie with such a title. “Is that even a name for a film?” she asked the audience, adding that the film was a “flop” based on the crowd’s lukewarm response when asked if they had seen it.

Caught off guard, Akshay Kumar initially said he wasn’t aware of the comment but responded with a measured tone: “If she’s said something, maybe she’s right. If making Toilet: Ek Prem Katha was a mistake, then I’ll accept that.”
However, he also stood by the intention behind the film. “I’ve made movies like Pad Man, Airlift, Kesari, all with a purpose. I make these films with full honesty. They try to raise awareness, and I believe that counts,” he added. He stressed that films like Toilet and Pad Man are still used by the government to educate people in villages, showing their long-term impact.