Bollywood’s OG Khiladi Akshay Kumar isn’t just throwing punches on-screen, he’s also diving deep into divine roles! After leaving audiences in awe with his Shiva-inspired character in OMG 2, he’s now gearing up to play Lord Shiva in Kannappa. But just when fans were vibing to his song Mahakal Chalo, the controversy came knocking!
A scene from the song where Akshay is seen hugging a Shivling didn’t sit well with some, sparking a heated debate. But leave it to Mr. Khiladi to hit back with the most composed response ever!
Akshay Kumar addresses The Controversy Around His Song
During the grand teaser launch of Kannappa, Akshay Kumar addressed the Shivling in the controversy. With utmost clarity, he questioned, “We have always been taught that God is like our parents. If we show love by hugging them, what’s so wrong in that?”
And when he asked the audience if they saw anything inappropriate, the crowd roared with a big fat ‘NO’! He then went on to say, “So what’s wrong in that? If my strength comes from there, then if someone misunderstands my devotion, it’s not my fault. That’s it,” he added, making it crystal clear that his devotion is pure and unshakable.
Vishnu Manchu Joins The Discussion
Actor Vishnu Manchu, who plays Kannappa in the film, also stepped in to support Akshay’s sentiment. He reminded everyone that in certain traditions, Kannappa’s worship involved pouring water from his mouth onto Lord Shiva’s idol as an act of deep devotion. He explained, “As long as your heart is pure, devotion is pure, the rituals are not necessary is what the movie tells. The same thing, I felt divine when he was hugging it. I feel connected.”
Taking a respectful stance towards those opposing the scene, Vishnu concluded, “With due respect to the Priest Association, I don’t know them personally. But the way we worship is very pure. In the movie, I wrote the characters as how I saw my mom and dad. I recall their cute banter and have implemented it in the movie. And like he said, as long as we take them as our parents, there is no mistake in the way we worship them.”
About Kannappa
The film tells the story of Kannappa Nayannar, a once-atheist hunter who became a devout follower of Lord Shiva. His unwavering devotion led him to make the ultimate sacrifice by offering his eyes to the deity, a tale deeply connected to the Srikalahasteeswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh. Vishnu Manchu stars as Kannappa, alongside Mohan Babu, Mohanlal, Kajal Aggarwal as Goddess Parvati, Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva, and Prabhas as Nandi. Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and produced under Manchu’s banners AVA Entertainment and 24 Frames Factory. The movie will release in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, and English.
Akshay Kumar’s 2025 Lineup Is Pure Fire!
While Akshay is channeling divine energy in Kannappa, his work calendar is jam-packed with some major films. Get ready to see him in: Kesari Chapter 2, Jolly LLB 3, Housefull 5, Welcome to the Jungle and Hera Pheri 3.
While the Mahakal Chalo controversy may have stirred debates, Akshay Kumar’s response has been nothing but calm, logical, and full of conviction. Faith, after all, is personal and in Akshay’s book, love for God should never come with conditions!
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