Khanna reflected on Akshay Kumar’s career trajectory, noting that Kumar’s past films often failed due to uninspired subject choices, despite his early success with diverse roles.Khanna pointed out that Kumar’s more recent hits, like Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and stories centered around rescue operations, were a result of selecting better scripts. However, Khanna observed that despite Kumar’s efforts to make more thoughtful choices, some of his films still flopped. He suggested that Kumar might still be picking the wrong projects and highlighted Kumar’s reputation for performing daring stunts, such as jumping from high buildings.
Mukesh advised Kumar to choose roles that align with his strengths, like the husband role in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha or in rescue-themed films. He noted that while Kumar’s recent film did well, it lacked action, which doesn’t suit Kumar’s typical style. Khanna suggested that Kumar should return to action-packed roles like those in Khiladi or International Khiladi. Although Khanna’s feedback seemed to go unanswered, he noted that Kumar had recently been defensive about his choice to do multiple films a year, responding to criticism by questioning what else he should do if he finishes a film quickly.
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The veteran star acknowledged that Kumar’s defense of his rapid production pace and cost-saving efforts was valid. However, he still believes that Kumar needs to rethink his choice of stories to regain his status as a major hit, as audiences appreciate his action-oriented roles. Despite his past successes, Khanna’s connection with Kumar has weakened, especially after his criticisms of films like Laxmii and endorsements for gutka ads.
